Sahil and Danny had been tearing through Hydra and Wilson Fisk's operations across New York. With Danny's Qi refined through Kun Lun-style training, and Sahil operating on a level beyond any ordinary enhanced individual, their mission was swift and brutal.
Danny couldn't help but marvel at Sahil's speed. Even though Danny had mastered channeling Qi throughout his body, Sahil wasn't even visibly using Qi—and yet he moved like lightning, leapt over rooftops effortlessly, and knocked out enemies with precise, minimal effort. Through his Qi-enhanced vision, Danny could see something odd: Sahil's body was part machine, glowing faintly with unnatural energy, but there was no active Qi use. It puzzled him.
Suddenly, as they were clearing out another Fisk-controlled warehouse, Sahil stopped and turned sharply.
"We need to be somewhere," Sahil said flatly.
"What? Where?" Danny asked.
"Follow me. Try to keep up."
With that, Sahil bolted. Danny followed, but even with his Qi-enhanced speed, he was lagging far behind. Sahil leapt massive gaps between buildings with effortless grace, propelled by his spider-enhanced strength and the agility encoded in his Snake Eyes template. Internally, Sahil noted how easily he sensed disturbances in the air, in the city—his nanite-enhanced spider-sense and ninja training made navigating the city at full speed trivial.
By the time Sahil reached the rooftop of an abandoned building in Hell's Kitchen, Danny was only a quarter of the way through the route.
There, he found Daredevil tied up to a water pipe, his suit torn, breathing heavy. Standing before him was Frank Castle—the Punisher. He was pacing, fury in his eyes, voice booming in frustration.
"Why don't you just give up on the damn rule, Matt?!" Frank shouted. "The streets are filled with scum, and you're too soft!"
"Because I don't kill, Frank. We're not the same," Daredevil replied through gritted teeth.
Sahil stepped out of the shadows in a sleek, black, Snake Eyes-inspired suit that reflected almost no light. His voice cut through the rooftop air like a blade.
"So you're punishing people for not being a killer now?"
Frank spun around and fired instinctively. Sahil dodged two bullets with almost casual speed, catching one between his fingers.
"Hey! Stop!" Daredevil shouted, disoriented, unable to sense Sahil until the words hit his ears.
Sahil walked forward, face still covered, then with a mental command, the nanites peeled back. His face emerged from the blackness.
"The world knows me as Sahil Hamato," he said, his voice calm and assertive. "But you can call me Splinter."
Danny finally arrived, panting. He saw the scene—Matt tied up, Frank holding a smoking gun.
"So you're not just a lawyer, huh?" Danny said to Matt, still catching his breath.
Frank raised his weapon again. Danny surged forward, fists glowing with Qi—but before the blow could land, Sahil was between them, one hand up, blocking Danny's punch.
"Why are you protecting this murderer?" Danny barked.
"He's just a soldier who didn't get justice," Sahil replied. "You wouldn't call Captain America a killer, right? Cuz I've worked with him. And I'm a killer too."
Danny didn't reply, the weight of those words sinking in.
Sahil continued, pulling out a small earpiece formed from his nanites. "Take our friendly neighborhood lawyer to my lab. Detroit will fix him up. The earpiece is linked to your phone and will guide you to the secret entrance."
Danny hesitated, then walked over to Matt. He looked at Frank with suspicion before untying the ropes.
"You okay?" Danny asked.
"Thanks. I'm good enough," Matt replied.
Danny glanced at Sahil again. "You keep surprising me."
"You haven't seen anything yet," Sahil smirked. "Detroit will take care of you."
As Danny and Matt made their way to the fire escape, Matt turned back and said, "Thank you… Splinter."
Sahil gave a nod, then turned his attention back to Frank, who had lowered his weapon but hadn't moved.
"What happens now?" Frank asked.
"Now?" Sahil said quietly, letting his visor slide back into place. "Now I finish what you started."
He stepped into the darkness of the rooftop, the black of his suit blending into the shadows like a ghost.
The war wasn't over.
But now, there was a new player on the board.
And his name was Splinter.