Vailed In Shadows || 2012! Leonardo x Kunoichi Reader || COMPLETED ||

The Shredder had summoned his followers to the main hall of his lair. The room fell into an eerie silence, the only sound the distant crashing of waves against the rocks near the pathway. The shadows seemed to stretch endlessly as the dim light from overhead flickered, casting ominous shapes across the walls. The figure of the Shredder, towering and imposing, stood at the head of the room, his sharp eyes scanning the faces of those gathered before him. There was Fishface, Razar, TigerClaw, Baxter Stockman, and his daughter, Karai.

“You called for us, Master Shredder?” TigerClaw asked, his voice steady but tinged with curiosity.

“I have,” Shredder responded, his voice dark and spine-chilling, sending a shiver down anyone’s spine who dared to listen. “We have serious matters to discuss.”

Fishface, always the one to voice his concerns, spoke up. “Is this about that ninja we keep running into?” he asked, his tone tinged with irritation.

Shredder’s sharp gaze fixed on him. “Correct. He is becoming a thorn in my side. A constant nuisance that needs to be dealt with,” he said, his tone low and dangerous.

Baxter Stockman, who had been listening quietly, buzzed in with a frustrated tone. “I ran into him last night. He nearly tore off my wings! The nerve of that ninja! He's becoming far too bold.”

Shredder's eyes narrowed as he processed the words. “And what of you, Karai?” he asked, his gaze turning toward his daughter. “I’ve heard you came close to capturing him.”

Karai stood tall, her gaze unwavering as she met her father’s eyes. “I almost had him, father,” she began, her voice steady but apologetic. “But he’s fast. My team couldn’t keep up. We were outmatched.”

Shredder’s expression darkened, his voice becoming colder. “That’s no excuse, Karai. You should have been able to handle him. You know how crucial this mission is. We know how crucial it is.”

Karai lowered her gaze slightly but held her ground. “I understand, father.”

Shredder’s eyes flashed with anger as he spoke again. “This ninja is a threat, one that we can’t afford to ignore. He’s blocking our progress. He's interfering with our plans, most importantly, he's preventing us from defeating Hamato Yoshi. Every minute we waste dealing with this ninja is a minute we lose in our quest for power!”

A tense silence fell over the room as Shredder’s words echoed in the air, the weight of his frustration palpable. The followers stood still, awaiting their orders, knowing that their master would not tolerate failure.

“What do you want us to do, Master?” Razar finally asked, his voice steady but tinged with an undercurrent of unease. The tension in the air was thick enough to slice through.

Shredder’s eyes glinted with malice as he fixed his gaze on each of his followers in turn. “Bring him to me,” he commanded, his voice laced with cold, deadly intent. “I will finish him myself. And when I do, I want him to suffer. His arrogance will be his downfall.”

There was a brief pause, the followers exchanging glances, understanding the weight of the mission. They knew what failure meant when it came to the Shredder.

TigerClaw stepped forward, his voice firm. “We won’t fail you, Master Shredder. We’ll deal with this ninja. He won’t get away again.”

“See that you don’t,” Shredder said darkly. “I want him alive, so I can savor every moment of his defeat. He’s made a mistake by crossing me. We’ll make sure he regrets it.”

As the group dispersed to carry out their mission, the air in the hall felt even colder, as if the very walls themselves were holding their breath. The Shredder stood alone, the shadows wrapping around him as his mind raced with plans of destruction. This ninja was a problem—one that would soon be erased. And the suffering he intended for him would be a lesson for all who dared stand in his way.