Oroku Saki duels the Dragon Warrior in TMNT: Shredder in Hell No. 3
By Alex Widen
Image by IDW Publishing
Splinter Sure Must Be in Intense Meditation!
Neither Kitsune nor the Dragon seem to mind that Saki’s corpse lacks a head. What is complicating matters is that Oroku Saki’s soul hasn’t gotten with the program. To this end, the Dragon officially becomes one with Takeshi Tatsuo’s form to force the merger once and for all. He descends from his lofty perch, and practically the entire underworld fawns or kneels. Tatsuo, now the “Dragon Warrior,” summons the elite demons of Hell to serve as his underlings in his quest.
Image by IDW Publishing
The Shredder manages to tear apart the massive demon made up of his fears’ visions (which included his father, Oroku Maji), but at a price. The sliver of Yoshi’s soul is mortally wounded, and unlikely to remain. Learning that Yoshi apparently sacrificed his chance at Nirvana — the realm of eternal enlightenment for Buddhists — in order to aid him in Hell, Saki is genuinely touched by his old friend’s sacrifice. If Nirvana is where Tang Shen is, does that mean Splinter can never be reunited with her?
Image by IDW Publishing
Such touching scenes are of no consequence to Takeshi Tatsuo. Although Oroku tries to get the Foot Clan founder to reassert his will, his soul has belonged to the Dragon for centuries. Wishing to reclaim Saki’s soul before he masters the art of using the Dragon’s power to his own ends, Takeshi unleashes his demon hordes upon the Shredder. Armed with his new “ki claws,” the Shredder is able to make mincemeat out of most of them, while Takeshi waxes poetic.