In ancient Japan, Hamato Yoshi and Tang Shen had four sons. Unfortunately, due to Yoshi's standing against the corrupt Foot Clan leader Oroku Saki, Saki targeted Yoshi and his family's lives. The six of them were slain by Oroku Saki and his ninja army. Centuries later, the sons of Yoshi were reincarnated as Turtles that were being used as test subjects for scientific experiments, and Yoshi himself was a rat in the same lab. During their tenure, a band of ninja attempted to steal an experimental mutagen, and the five of them, along with an alley cat, ended up doused with the substance.
The Turtles engage in a street fight with Splinter's enemy Old Hob and his gang. The Turtles are victorious but Hob leaves them vowing to get even. His threat forces them to remember their brother Raphael whom is missing. Splinter sends the three Turtles out to continue looking for their brother, despite Donatello and Michelangelo feeling it to be a waste of time writing Raphael off as being dead. Leonardo clings on to hope that he's still alive. The Turtles come across a huge brawl taking place with Old Hob preparing to kill Raphael at gun point. From here Leonardo unleashes a shuriken attack to Hob's arm, and the fight begins anew with the Turtles winning the battle and bringing Raphael home finally.
Splinter takes the time to reveal to the Turtles their origin and he believes them all to be reincarnated from a past life where they were all killed by the Shredder and Foot Clan. Meanwhile out on patrol, the Turtles come across two ninjas pursuing another ninja and they succeed in killing him. The description of the two sound like the Foot Clan to Splinter. Next Old Hob's benefactor is revealed to be Baxter Stockman whom wants Splinter captured in order to draw a blood sample from him. Stockman grants Hob control over his creation the Mouser robots; they locate the Turtles lair and a battle breaks out which is being fought by Leonardo alone due to Donatello and Splinter falling victim to a collapsing wall, and Michelangelo and Raphael being away. The other two Turtles arrive and together they manage to destroy the Mouser robots but Hob gets away with Splinter.
After the battle, Casey Jones arrives to the lair and the Turtles meet April O' Neil for the first time. Leonardo takes this time to patrol solo and he comes into a battle against a group of ninjas at an abandoned site. The group attack the Turtle in which he uses his wits and amazing skill to fight back valiantly. He comes into a lone weaponless ninja whom manages to best him one on one, and the ninja tosses Leonardo into a trash dumpster in total defeat. Leonardo leaves to the lair alerting his brothers that they have formidable enemies, but keeps his loss a secret from them.
Later, they depart to find out where Splinter is and they learn that he may be in Stockgen Labs. The Turtles break into the place encountering some resistance and they learn that Splinter has been kidnapped a second time; due to the description of the assailants, Leonardo is sure he was taken by Foot Clan ninjas which Donatello brushes off as more superstition. While in their new home provided by April, they encounter the Purple Dragons gang and learn that the Foot Clan do exist, and Leonardo decides they need to go after them.
The Turtles locate the Foot Clan's hideout just in time to save Splinter from certain death by the Shredder. The Turtles immediately attack and Leonardo learns that the highly skilled ninja whom defeated him earlier was really Shredder himself. The battle rages on and Leonardo engages Karai in battle swiftly besting her. The Shredder enters the fray and proves to be too much for the Turtles individually. Leonardo leads a team oriented assault against the ninja and fight him to a standstill which allows them to retrieve Splinter and barely escape.
The mutant turtle Slash escapes from Stockgen Labs and manages to follow the Turtles to their new lair. The mindless beast stalks them and then suddenly attacks devastating the group; their attacks barely slow him down and the final result is the entire group beaten into unconsciousness with only Leonardo able to fight back. April and Casey Jones makes it to the scene, and this results in Slash tackling Leonardo in a rage which leads to Slash being seriously stabbed in the shoulder. He falls into the sewer washing away and Leonardo meditates after the battle upset that he may have killed him.
In an attempt to rescue Casey Jones from Shredder, he, his brothers, and Master Splinter have no choice but to rush into a trap after Casey is stabbed through the chest by Oroku. They are able to rescue Casey, but while they are retreating Leo is shot with a tranquilizer dart. They are forced to leave without him in order to get Casey to the hospital. When they come back the Foot Clan has already taken Leo to their hideout. It is revealed that Shredder's plan all along was to kidnap Leonardo in order for Witch Kitsune to brainwash him into serving the Foot. She succeeds, but as events unfold Leo starts to resist Kitsune's influence. After overcoming Kitsune's influence, Leonardo has shown the ability to overcome mind control.
Current Version:
Leonardo
Former Versions:
Leonardo (Original)
Leonardo (Foot Clan)
