Splinter

Splinter is very wise, noble, polite, humble, disciplined and generous ninjutsu sensei who can be very strict when it comes to training and letting his sons venture up to the surface, as seen in many episodes. At certain times, he may use harsh methods in order for them to learn a lesson, as seen in "The Pulverizer Returns!", in which he took away his sons' weapons so they could learn to fight outside of their typical environment. Nonetheless, Splinter is a loving father who only wants what is best for his sons, and will do anything that he can to protect them from harm's way.

Though stern at certain times, Splinter was known as a wise sensei, a defensive, protective and affable parent, a loving father, a stern disciplinarian, a quirky master, and a Zen (he is very often seen in the Dōjō meditating). Having lost a family once, he is very determined to train and protect his new one at all costs, though he grudgingly realizes that the Turtles are now at an age where he will have to, at some point, give them the freedom to make their own mistakes in the outside world. The fact that he has gone through decades of ninja training does not only mean that he is always fierce when he fights, but that he's also remarkably in tune with the universe. He is a ninja master at the height of his abilities; he is so in tune with the universe that he can literally feel its vibrations, allowing him to project and sense energy and, occasionally, the intentions of others.

Splinter seems to dislike anyone that lays a hand on the Turtles. This is emphasized in "It Came From The Depths", as he battled Leatherhead because he threatened to harm the Turtles. Splinter's absolute worst fear is losing his family all over again to the Shredder, as seen in "Panic in the Sewers". His fear of losing the Turtles to the Shredder caused him to push their training to the point where they become exhausted, stressed, and antsy, though he does eventually apologize for it. It is very possible that Splinter fears the fact that the Turtles will leave him someday, as this was one of the notions that the Rat King used against him in an attempt to control his mind ("I, Monster").

History Splinter(TMNT2012) 0250 Hamato Yoshi/Splinter before his mutation.

Born in 1962 in Ōsaka, Japan into a peacekeeping ninja clan called Hamato, Hamato Yoshi enrolled into a Martial Arts school before he could inherit his father's role as clan leader.

Originally a human named Hamato Yoshi, Splinter lived in Japan and studied ninjutsu alongside his best friend, Oroku Saki (later known as the Shredder). Yoshi's father found the young Saki as a baby boy, and raised him as Yoshi's brother.

Yoshi's skills were only rivaled by fellow student Oroku Saki, who was Yoshi's adoptive brother, originally from one of the wiped out rival clans, the Foot. Not only were they rivals in Martial Arts but also for the love of a beautiful woman named Tang Shen, who eventually chose to marry Yoshi. Saki could not accept this and once insulted Yoshi in front of her. Yoshi made the mistake of losing his temper and struck Saki to the ground. This attack solidified Saki's hatred for Yoshi and he vowed revenge. During this time, Saki learned of his true heritage and rebuilt the Foot Clan, rechristening himself as "the Shredder". One night, he came to Yoshi's home armed with razor sharp claw weapons and challenged him to a duel to the death. Yoshi accepted, and the two tore through Yoshi's home, catching it on fire. Just as Saki was about to kill Yoshi, Shen interfered and took the fatal blow for herself. Yoshi barely escaped without knowing the fate of his baby daughter Hamato Miwa, assuming her to also be seemingly killed, but in reality Shredder secretly abducted her and raised as his daughter, Karai.

Tale-of-the-Yokai09 Hamato Yoshi battles Oroku Saki/Shredder in the dōjō.

Devastated, Hamato gave up his original name and left Japan for an eternity's exile. Under the alias "Splinter", he arrived in United States of America and attempted to start a new life in New York City. One fateful night, he bought four baby turtles at a local pet store. As he was walking down the street, he bumped into a suspicious man, whom he curiously followed into an alley way. As Splinter watched the first man exchanging a strange canister of Mutagen with another, he accidentally stepped on a rat which gave away his position. A fight ensued, and while Splinter was able to defeat the men (who were actually Kraangdroids in disguise), the canister was broken. Splinter and his newly bought pet turtles were all covered in ooze and mutated instantly. He became a giant rat for the last thing he touched was a rat before his mutation, while the turtles became anthropomorphic.

For the following fifteen years, Splinter and the Turtles lived in hiding in the sewers under New York City. Taking them in as his sons and students, Splinter raised the Turtles and trained them in the ways of Ninjutsu. When they turned fifteen, Splinter, though reluctant, allowed them to leave the lair for the very first time.