History Heartwarming / TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesIDW

* Ever since she was included into the mix, it's been ambiguous just how much Kitsune cared for Shredder, as she's been PlayingBothSides by encouraging Alopex to side with the Turtles and [[LadyMacbeth subtly influencing Shredder's decisions]]. However, when Splinter calls her out on this, she's visibly disturbed at the implication that she never truly cared about her "Dragon Warrior."
--> And then, come issue 60, when she absconds with what she thinks are Shredder's remains, she privately refers to him as "her beloved."

** Why does Shredder ultimately reject Splinter's attempts to help him pass on? he promised to find a way back to his beloved, Kistune.

** In honor of Splinter, the five form the Splinter Clan and return to Mutant Town to build a dojo and to help the mutants there in general. In the distance, a smiling man can be seen retreating. Perhaps the most heartwarming moment of all, as it shows that Saki has been watching over his former enemies. It's highly implied that he's the one that returned Klunk.

* In issue 66, Nobody questions Raphael on the nature of his bond with Alopex. Raph expresses his concerns about how such a relationship would work, [[InterspeciesRomance seeing as he's a turtle and she's a fox]], but goes on to admit that he still really likes her. Why? Because the two of them [[NotSoDifferent aren't so different]], being loners who had trouble connecting with others until recently.

* In issue 4 of the crossover with Franchise/{{Batman}}, Raphael accuses Batman of being some sort of thrill-seeking rich boy who has no intention on getting Splinter or the other turtles home and bails. Batman picks him up in the Batmobile and takes him to Crime Alley and the spot where Thomas and Martha Wayne died. He explains that he never wants to see anyone's family shattered by something senseless and asks Raphael to help him help his family. He doesn't get a "yes", but the intent is very clear.
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* Every time [[spoiler: Tang Shen's spirit]] comes to comfort Leonardo in his dreams.

** [[spoiler: When Koya gets the feathers on her wings slashed by Leonardo, Bludgeon immediately rushes to her aid. This, despite being blinded from Donatello/Metalhead's flashbang.]]

** Donatello [[spoiler: making a triumphant return in his real body to deal the knockout blow on Bebop and Rocksteady, much to the joy of his friends and family. Complete with a bear hug from Raphael.]]
** [[spoiler: Splinter and Shredder making some measure of peace after the former delivers a mortal wound to the latter. Shredder's last words to Splinter as he commits seppuku come off less as a form of SeeYouInHell; and more like [[WorthyOpponent an acknowledgement between two respected adversaries.]] ]]
--->'''[[spoiler: Shredder]]:''' [[spoiler: I will see you in the forest again...[[YouCalledMeXItMustBeSerious brother]].]]
--->'''[[spoiler: Splinter]]:''' [[spoiler: I do not doubt it...[[WeUsedToBeFriends my brother]].]]
** [[spoiler: Shredder, shortly before committing seppuku, tells his granddaughter Karai that all of his [[TheUnfavorite harshness towards her]] was meant to [[SinkOrSwimMentor hone her into a worthy successor]], and that he truly considers her [[SoProudOfYou his finest student.]] Yes. ''[[MoralEventHorizon That]]'' [[BigBad Shredder]]. ]]
*** He also [[spoiler: vows to Kitsune that though he may die here, one way or another, his spirit will find its way back to her--which she acknowledges by calling him her "Dragon Warrior."]]
** Splinter, [[spoiler: after helping Shredder with his ritual suicide, takes a moment to [[DueToTheDead mourn]]. Even after [[MoralEventHorizon all the pain and misery]] that Shredder inflicted on him and his family--over ''two'' lifetimes--[[TearJerker Splinter still saw him as his oldest, closest friend]].]]
** Karai [[spoiler: honors the outcome of the duel, vowing to return to Japan so she can better train herself to be a worthy leader for the Foot Clan. And she offers ''Splinter'' the Shredder's position as leader in the meantime!]]

** While [[spoiler: Mikey is understandably shocked and upset by [[KlingonPromotion Splinter's decision to lead the Foot Clan]], Splinter is understanding of his son's ensuing decision to leave, acknowledging that he needs time to come to terms with what's happened.]]
*** [[spoiler: It's also safe to assume that under [[BigGood Splinter's]] leadership, the Foot Clan has a chance for a group-scale HeelFaceTurn. ]]

--> And then, come issue 60, when she absconds with [[spoiler: what she thinks are Shredder's remains]], she privately refers to him as "her beloved."

** Cue the epilogue of issue 66, where [[spoiler: Alopex's first reaction to seeing Raphael is to give him a joyful hug]].
* In issue 67. Leonardo expresses his frustrations over the conflict of interests he and his brothers have on deciding on what their next move should be regarding recent events. Splinter - who [[spoiler: has, by this point, been taking more ruthless actions as the new leader of the Foot Clan]] - proves that [[spoiler: his old, noble self isn't gone]] by expressing relief that his sons are still capable of being teenagers after all they've been through, and giving Leonardo some fatherly advice for how to lead Clan Hamato [[spoiler: in his absence]].

*** Massive TearJerker though it is, the future that could possibly be shows Leonardo comforting Michelangelo [[spoiler:after they were forced to kill a corrupted Splinter]]. Micheangelo, while obviously shaken, [[spoiler:doesn't blame Leo for what they had to do]].
*** The sheer horror on Splinter's face at the vision of a possible future is telling, as well - though he may have slipped towards the darker side of his moral compass, the notion that [[spoiler:he could become the next Shredder, and commit deeds so terrible that his sons were forced to ''kill'' him to stop him,]] clearly terrifies him.

** Hun may be a [[FantasticRacism bigot towards mutants]], but he won't let ''anyone'' [[PapaWolf hurt his son]] - when Bishop tries to murder Casey Jones for standing by the TMNT, he [[spoiler: [[TakingTheBullet takes the killing shot meant for his son]], and dies after being reassured that Casey's safe]].

** Splinter telling his sons how much he loves them before [[spoiler:sacrificing himself to foil Kitsune's plan by resurrecting Shredder instead of the Dragon]].
** Hard as it may be to believe, [[spoiler:Shredder - yes, ''[[BigBad that]] [[KickTheDog Shredder]]'' - has become a better person thanks to the events of ''Shredder in Hell,'' showing remorse to Yoshi and Tang Shen for his past sins before being brought back. Upon his revival, he shows DueToTheDead by honoring Splinter's sacrifice, and gives a shaken Kitsune a CooldownHug.]]

** Expanding on the duel with Koya, Leonardo recognizes how she's driven mindlessly by hatred, and more than a little grief over the suffering she and Bludgeon went through after being crippled during the battle of Issue #50. Eventually, he tries to reason with her, warning her that she'll be consumed by her own rage if she kills him. [[spoiler:This ''actually gets through'' to Koya, who calms down. Later, she returns the bandana she tore off him during their fight, giving him a faint smile before departing.]]
** Also, [[spoiler:Karai shows up with her other followers and apologizes for Koya's attack. She and Leo engage in a respectful sparring match, and the two of them negotiate a truce of sorts.]]
* In ''Shredder in Hell,'' issue #1, Shredder awakens in the afterlife to find himself in a re-creation of the forest that he and Yoshi played in as children. Surprisingly, Saki Oroku is delighted by this peaceful resolution. [[spoiler: Pity that his previous incarnation, Takeshi Tatsuo, has other ideas]].
** After his struggle with [[spoiler:his past self]], Shredder finds himself rescued by none other than [[spoiler:Splinter]], who has joined him in the afterlife and intends to help him find inner peace. Of course, it overlaps with TearJerker, because [[spoiler:it's implied that Splinter is, by this point, dead]].
** Why does Shredder ultimately reject [[spoiler:Splinter]]'s attempts to help him pass on? [[spoiler:he promised to find a way back to his beloved, Kistune]].
** [[spoiler:Tang Shen]] encouraging [[spoiler:Hamato Yoshi]] to pursue the Shredder and help him out.
** When [[spoiler:Splinter]] pursues Shredder into a more hostile realm of the afterlife, [[spoiler:he gets transformed into an actual, non-mutant rat]]. Astonishingly, Shredder ''turns back'' to check on them, and [[spoiler:manages a relieved smirk when Splinter scurries up onto his shoulder so they can continue their journey together]].

** The two goons from a few issues earlier show up looking to get some payback from Jennika, until Leonardo defuses the situation by pointing out that really, they're ''all'' here to just enjoy some tunes. Micheangelo chipping in about this being their first concert surprises the tough guys, and they're last seen amicably chatting with Michelangelo.

** The following scenes show the turtles raising a new generation of Clan Splinter, encouraging them and bonding along the way. Even when a few of the younger students pick on their peer for being clumsy, Jennika talks to her to cheer her up, and encourages her that she can improve.