| “ | Oh, Mashimi, you startled me. [...] What, what is wrong with you? | „ |
| ~ Tang Shen's last words, before being murdered by Yukio Mashimi. |
Tang Shen is a minor character in the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. She was the adoptive daughter of the Ancient One and love interest of Hamato Yoshi.
She was voiced by Karen Neill.
History[]
Tang Shen was a sweet, compassionate and intelligent young woman and an orphan raised by the Ancient One, who had also adopted Hamato Yoshi and his friend Yukio Mashimi. As the primary cook of the household, Tang Shen saw to it that everyone was well-fed and cared for. When a hungry rat (who later became Splinter) snuck into the kitchen for food, Shen stopped Mashimi from killing it and took pity on the rat, which she fed and started to take care of as a pet. Over time, Tang Shen grew closer to Yoshi and Mashimi. Both boys fell in love with her, but Shen was only in love with Yoshi, which made Mashimi jealous.
As Shen, Yoshi and Mashimi were walking in the streets of Tokyo one night, they witnessed Mortu being attacked by a group of Foot ninjas. The boys helped Mortu defeat the ninjas and were offered to become Guardians of the Utroms. Shen listened as the Ancient One forbade them to join the Guardians, but Yoshi and Mashimi made their own decisions.
The growing strength of Yoshi's bond with Shen, as well as him surpassing Mashimi in the ranks of the Guardians, worsened Mashimi's jealousy until he finally snapped. One night, Yoshi and Tang Shen kissed in the garden of their home as Mashimi was secretly watching them. After Yoshi left, thunder cracked and Shen raised her arms to embrace the rain. As she happily soaked herself and stroked her hair, Mashimi called out her name from behind, surprising her. Shen was relieved it was him at first, but backed away with fear as Mashimi stood there glaring at her. The Ancient One heard Shen scream and rushed outside, where he found her lifeless body on the ground, murdered by Mashimi.
Tang Shen was buried in a hill under the shade of a tree. Yoshi was tremendously saddened by her murder and avenged Shen's death by killing Mashimi. Her grave was visited years later by Splinter, who returned Yoshi's ashes to Japan where they were buried alongside Shen.
