NOTE: This story takes place directly after TMNT #10 - so make sure you read that issue first or you'll be confused.

Interesting, thought Kuroyama as he watched the building and the five figures departing from it. There were several interesting things of note here. The first was the actions of the hated Wolverine, who seemed to be scouring the town for him. As he thought of him, his arm trembled and the sickle that had replaced his hand after his last confrontation with Logan.

The second thing of interest was appearance of the four turtles. There had been rumours of these creatures in New York for a while now, but they had not been of any significant interest. In fact as he had heard they opposed the Foot and thereby were allies of the Hand, even if they did not know it. Yet now they were allied with Logan to find the Hand, who would lead them to the Foot. Did they know that they were after them, or had those fools he had sacrificed told them too much, or had someone else in the city said something?

It did not matter, however, for there was a third and final piece of information that the others had neglected to notice on their departure. A ninja was making his way from the building, having also watched what was going on, however he was not one of the Hand and he was not trained that well for he did not notice him watching. He had not noticed him at all, even though he was more or less right behind him.

Kuroyama smiled. This was one of the Foot, he had found the quarry he was after and as the ninja sloped off in to the night. His plan was simple and effective, and would provide a final solution to the problem. He would follow and he would find the Foot and he would deal with them.

I've teamed up with some o' the greatest heroes on the planet. I've fought with and against some of the weirdest creatures in the universe. An' now? Now I'm workin' with four turtles. Six foot high teenage turtles, with ninja skills and weapons and a couple of which have an attitude problem. But what do you expect from teenagers?

Yet, fer some reason I can't figure out yet why I'm workin' with them. I think mostly it's because it's better than workin' against them, an' as they seem to be heroes it'd probably be a bad idea to try a new twist on a couple of Japanese culinary favourites.

Then again if they don't stop bickerin' with each other, I might forget who I'm supposed to be and to... Nah, it ain't worth givin' in to the Shadow King fer these guys.

"You had to pick a fight with a guy like Wolverine," says Mike. "You've seen the stuff, the guy's a hero. Saved the world a few times, given his life for it. Jeez, Raph, what ever happened to being one with the environment."

"Shove it, Mikey," answers Raphael. "I've also seen the news sayin' he's a traitor and I'd pick Captain America over Wolverine any day."

"He's right there," retorts Donatello. "Are you blind or just stupid?"

"I was just sayin'," snaps Raph. "Maybe he ain't the hero you guys want him to be."

"Will you guys give it a rest?" says Leonardo. "He'd have kicked the crap out of us earlier and left us for dead, Raph, but he didn't and I say we give him the benefit of the doubt. And you two," he says turning on his brothers, "leave Raph alone. We all make mistakes. You two aren't perfect, I'm not perfect and the sooner we find Splinter the sooner we can go home."

"Damn right," I say, shakin' my head. "It's a wonder you guys ever learnt anything.' Yer follow throughs are sloppy, your weapon skills are good but not great an' you ain't got a bead on anythin' that's goin' on. You came to Japan and then what? You've no plan, no real idea of what life is really like and you're tryin' to hard. Relax, let yer skills flow and it'll be so much easier. This stuff has to be like... like..." There's a scent in the air, I scent I've been after all night.

"Like what?" asks Raphael, skepticism in his voice as well as annoyance at been told what he's really like.

"Like usin' yer senses," I answer. Kuroyama, headin' away from our direction. Wind must have shifted. "Bub, you just made my evenin'." I turn and start runnin'. The turtles can keep up.

If they can.

In the distance, she watched as Wolverine turned and started running down the street. She knew he was here for a reason, she knew that reason was Hand related, she knew that Kuroyama was on the move. If Logan knew where he was, he would lead her to him.

She needed to see him one more time, to make sure she was making the right decision. She placed her hand on her belly, feeling the kick inside of her. It was a thing of evil, born of sorcery and of rituals she had no real way of understanding even though she had read much on the subject. She was dead, her heart had been cut out several years ago and she had been restored to the world of the living, dead, yet alive. Unlike Elektra her wounds were so severe that true life was not feasibly attained for her, so she was like Kuroyama, a corpse with life.

She remembered the love she had for the Black Mountain of the Hand, the things that he had taught her, not just as a warrior but as a woman. They had performed rituals and ceremonies and she had been his consort, his equal. Until Elektra.

Elektra had shown her that there was still good within her and that her soul, though corrupted, was not fully gone and she had fled in fear and confusion as to what she had become. She had been living in Australia until one day she had felt the kick inside of her and she knew that she was having the baby of Kuroyama, that she would give birth to the demon child of the Hand, the heir to the magics and the supreme leader of the Hand.

A child born of the undead, life from lifelessness, Nina McCabe was the Chosen One of the Hand, the Genesis. Her progeny would make them strong and she needed to know which path to choose from this point. She needed to find out if she could go back. She needed to know what her future held.

Kuroyama stalked the ninja until the black garbed warrior entered a rather nondescript building. He looked at it, weighing up the building, looking at what it was. The ninja had led him to the headquarters of the Foot, and Kuroyama leapt from the top of the building where he was on to the roof of the other building.

Instantly two ninja appeared coming towards him. He could tell by the way he hadn't seen them before that they were good, but he was much better and as they attacked him in unison, he sliced the throat of one, while kicking another square in the throat, crushing his jaw. The one with his slit throat held his neck, trying to keep the blood from spilling out but there was very little time left. The other fell to the floor, trying to shout or to scream for help to even breathe but his ruined throat could not help him and he would slowly suffocate as the air he needed was denied access to his lungs. These would be but the first of the Foot to die at his hands this night.

He made his way inside the building, quickly dealing with those foolish enough to bar his way until he got to a place where he could see the man he was after, speaking with the ninja he had followed.

<"My Lord, I have news,"> the ninja stated in Japanese, bowing before the leader of the Foot. Kuroyama noted the leader, watched his body language, assessing the man in the armour.

<"Speak, then,"> the leader said, his voice showing a hint of impatience to it that Kuroyama liked. It was a sign of weakness to be impatient with a subordinate this early on. <"And be quick about it.">

<"The kappa have arrived in Japan... possibly to search for their missing master,"> the ninja repeated what he had witnessed. <"They have just allied themselves with the one called Wolverine - the sworn enemy of the Hand."> Their leader's body language shifted, as if a great rage had come over him and Kuroyama smiled, for if what he suspected were true it would be most pleasing.

<"What did you just say?">

<"That they've allied themselves with Wolverine - the sworn enemy of the Hand?">

<"That's twice,"> the armoured man acknowledged what Kuroyama wanted and then followed it up with confirmation. He looked down at the ninja. <"The name of our rival is not to be uttered in this sacred place.">

<"M-my Lord, I apologi--">

<"Don't,"> he replied, as he drove his blades into the ninja's skull. <"It is a sign of weakness.">

<"And that is not?"> said Kuroyama, leaping from the ledge where he had been watching, his sickle hidden underneath his cloak. <"For one who wears the garb of the Shredder, you do not have the necessary discipline.">

<"In the last moments of your life, you will tell me who you are,"> demanded the Shredder, gesturing so that his shadow warriors surrounded them and he sat down in his chair.

<"I am Kuroyama, Black Mountain of the Hand."> Shredder stood up almost instantly.

<"You dare come here?">

<"I dare much more than that,"> said Kuroyama, a menacing edge to his tone. <"You were foolish to take on that garb. You should have let your order die with Oroku Saki!">

<"How do you know I am not he?">

<"Because I have his head, preserved in formaldehyde,"> said Kuroyama.

<"I will destroy you myself,"> said the Shredder, a command to his warriors that this battle was his and his alone.

<"So much the better,"> said Kuroyama and the two of them began.

So this is the hideout of the Foot? Can't say I'm that impressed an' those turtles are a fair bit behind, which gives me time to scope the place out. Kuroyama's been here, no doubt about that. The scent and the bodies give it away. Guy's been here recently and he's creatin' quite a stir, because there ain't nobody else about.

Which is good, 'cause it makes it easier to be sneaky. Gonna have a look inside, because if Kuroyama's throwin' down on the Foot then this could be interestin' to watch. I don't doubt he can take them, but there's that overwhelmin' odds thing.

Just as I'm about to move, I taste the air an' those turtles are back.

"You ditched us?" asks Raphael, breathin' a little harder than normal. Guess a run wasn't in their plan.

"Nope," I reply. "Just makin' sure the path ahead was clear."

"Sonuva..." starts Raph and makes a move toward me, but before he or his brothers can react, I've got him pinned at the wall, my claws around his neck and the middle one tucked out o' the way.

"Now listen, bub," I say, lookin' him in the eye. "I ain't got time fer yer teenage angst crap right now. This is a mission an' its about time you either grew up or got outta the game, because this ain't amateur night. Yer in the big leagues now an' if ya don't shape up you're gone get someone killed, an' that someone may be you. Understand me?"

"Yes, sir," he answers me, a taint of defiance in his voice but subdued enough to know he got the message. I retract my claws, lettin' him go.

"Good kid," I finish the little chat. "Now, you guys act like ninja and go quiet. I wanna see what's goin' on an' I'd prefer to do it without 'em knowing we're there."

They say nothin' and follow my lead, which is good. Means they might make it out of this alive. We creep inside, and find that all their security types are dead and they died quick an' painful. Kuroyama didn't waste much time in here an' we make it to a small ledge at the back, lookin' down at the small amphitheatre below. Down there's a lot of ninja warriors, gathered around.

In the middle there's a fight. Kuroyama an' an armoured guy. Has a familiar scent but I can't place him exactly.

"The Shredder?" whispers Donatello in amazement. "But he's dead?"

"Will be soon," I answer, as we watch the fight below.

Kuroyama ducked as the Shredder aimed another blow at him, and he kicked out as he came towards him. Denting the armour with its power, the kick knocked Shredder back, turning his chair into kindling. Shredder stood up, his knee obviously in pain, but he managed to grab hold of Kuroyama as he flew towards him with a high kick.

Holding his leg he spun Kuroyama round, then let go throwing him across the room in to one of the supports of the room, however Kuroyama seemed to roll and be back on his feet as soon as he hit the floor.

<"You are skilled and strong, Shredder,"> he remarked, <"but you are not that good.">

<"We shall see,"> said Shredder, pulling a sickle from the kindling of his chair. It gleamed in the light of the torches that burned, lighting the room and Kuroyama brought his own sickle up, looking across the flat blade towards his opponent. Shredder advanced and the sickles flashed, clanging on each other as the two warriors clashed with venom against each other, but where as Shredder's weapon was separate from him, Kuroyama's was a part of him, and Shredder had the advantage of the blades on his armour that danced over his skin raking him.

<"You should never have engaged me at such close quarters, fool,"> said the Shredder, flecks of spittle hitting Kuroyama in the face.

<"Fool?"> said Kuroyama, twisting Shedder's arm, and pushing the sickle in to his gut, piercing the armour. <"I have faced many great warriors and you are not in their league."> The sickle pushed in, and he could see Shredder's eye's widen in pain and anger at being gutted with his own weapon. Shredder reacted with a vicious uppercut, slicing grooves in Kuroyama's face, and Kuroyama released his hold, both warriors stepping back to assess their wounds.

Shredder's knee was in pain, and the sickle had done some nasty damage as well, however his last blow to Kuroyama had left some nasty marks too. Then Kuroyama reacted first and leapt at his foe, Shredder's wounds distracting him the longer of the two and he looked up a fraction too late, to have the foot of Kuroyama meet him in the face, knocking off the helmet of the Shredder, sending in rolling to the floor. Blood gushed from the Shredder's nose and his eye was swollen.

Kuroyama's mask was in shreds and was seeped in the blood that poured from the wounds on his face. Shredder was wounded, hurt, but he was still standing and Kuroyama respected that, but enough was enough.

<"You have lost,"> said Kuroyama. <"Yield and die with dignity.">

<"I will never yield to you,"> said the Shredder and launched himself once more at Kuroyama who was no longer playing. As Shredder came towards him, Kuroyama leapt up with a circular air-kick and sent Shredder back to the floor, and he hit his head. Without the headpiece of his armour he was dazed and Kuroyama walked over to him.

<"How very gratifying,"> said Kuroyama, picking the man up, his sickle holding him in place as he lifted him with his good hand and threw him in to the air, intending the impact on the floor to shatter his bones on the landing, but Shredder seemed to get a second wind and grabbed hold of the edge and pulled himself up.

<"This is not over yet, Black Mountain,"> he said.

"Nope," said a voice behind him, and Shredder turned to see five figures.

"You," he said in English as he saw them and the Turtles looked at each other but it was not them that Shredder was referring. "Logan!"

"We met, bub?" asked Wolverine but Shredder gave a cry and leapt at him, Logan moving out of the way and rolling as Shredder landed hard and the ledge they were on shook and then began to creak.

"That can't be good," said Don as Shredder attacked Wolverine, who parried with the honour sword.

"Who the hell is this dude?" asked Mike as Shredder knocked Wolverine's blade from his hand sending it to the floor below, where it embedded itself in the floor

"Wolverine," hissed Kuroyama, seeing the weapon of his nemesis and looked up to try and see what was going on.

"I don't know," said Raph, "but if he took Splinter, I'm having a piece of him."

"Hang fire, bro," said Leo. "This is Logan's fight."

"Not for long," said Don. "Brace yourselves!" he cried as the ledge gave way and sent them to the floor, the turtles landing hard, but Shredder falling on top of Logan, then got off of him slowly standing.

"Logan!" cried Kuroyama

"Is mine," said Shredder, recovering from the effects fall at the same time as Logan stood up.

"Wanna bet, bub?" came the feral growl, Logan's arm hanging a little loosely at his side as if it had been hurt in the fall. The claws were also missing from that arm, and there was a fire in his eyes.

"Kill them all!" commanded the Shredder and the ninja warriors of the Foot attacked the Turtles and Kuroyama as their leader went after the hated enemy known as Logan.

Next Issue: The story continues in TMNT Annual 2001, with Shredder versus Logan, the Turtles versus Shredder and Logan versus Kuroyama: Round 2! All this and the Foot soldiers as well!