Author's Note: Let's begin with a warning. I wanted to try writing something darker, so proceed with caution.

This was inspired by Follow the Leader (2012 cartoon). I'm not sticking to the show.

I do not own the turtles.

Prologue

Leonardo watched the inscription on his katana. It was even worse than the 'Fearless Leader' nickname that Raphael had adopted lately.

'Lame-O-Nardo'.

His reflection on the sharp blade was looking at him with sad, forlorn eyes. Leonardo bit his lip and picked up the katana, sliding one finger on the infamous words written by Raphael.

He felt utterly inadequate. Was it really his brother's opinion of him?

I'm not lame, am I? I'm trying my best.

He sheathed his weapon. He would erase the inscription later. Raphael had used a marker anyway, it wouldn't go away with a mere rag.

Leonardo turned to the entrance of the alleyway, where his brothers had just departed, congratulating themselves for a job well done. He tried to understand how exactly their training session had gone that wrong.

Maybe he shouldn't have demanded from them that they fight in a traditional way. As ninja, their primary goal was to ensure victory, not to follow the rules.

Or maybe he was just a bad leader.

The more he thought about it, the more he believed it was true.

A good leader's orders wouldn't be second-guessed on a regular basis. But that's Raph's way of living.

A good leader would be taken seriously. But Mikey never does.

A good leader would be trusted by his followers. But Donnie has doubts about my decisions. He's only following me to indulge me.

Leonardo was deeply disappointed in everything and everyone, and mainly in himself. It was to be expected that his brothers and himself would need time to adjust to his new role in the family. However, he had believed that this matter was settled.

Especially after our victory against the Kraang.

Obviously, he had been wrong. If anything, it was worse now that Splinter had asked him to train his brothers. And it hurt more than the blue-clad turtle cared to admit. His father had trusted him with his brothers' safety. But how was he supposed to lead them when they had no respect for him?

After all these months, if they still don't respect me, it's unlikely that it will ever happen, Leonardo thought glumly.

It was a dangerous situation. What if they didn't listen to him at a critical time and one of them got hurt, or worse? It would be his fault, because he had failed to gain their respect as leader.

Leonardo couldn't take it. It was time for him to put two and two together. Without his brothers' support, he would be unable to fulfill his task. Even with it, he doubted more and more that he would be up to it.

I should never have asked for being leader. I don't know why Sensei accepted it. I'm not cut out for it. We have just been lucky so far.

Leonardo drew a deep breath and began running after his brothers. He caught up with them while they were disappearing under a manhole cover. They sent him mocking glances, which he ignored, and he walked silently in the sewers beside them.

After a few minutes, Michelangelo elbowed him.

"Hey, Leo," the orange-clad turtle said tentatively. "You're not mad at us, right?"

Leonardo didn't answer.

"Let him sulk", Raphael said dismissively, making eye contact with Donatello. "We won fair and square. Too bad he can't take it."

Donatello smiled, and Michelangelo joined him.

This has nothing to do with winning or losing, Raph, Leonardo thought. It's about respect and trust. But of course none of you understands.

He kept silent.

When they arrived at the lair, Leonardo still hadn't uttered a single word. He made directly for the dojo, and his brothers followed him. They would report to their father about the results of their patrol.

Splinter listened to their story, and nodded.

"Finding every canister of mutagen will be a hard task," he told them. "You have to be patient."

"Hai, Sensei," the four kneeling turtles answered.

Before Splinter could dismiss them, Leonardo spoke quietly.

"I have something important to tell."

His brothers and father looked at him curiously.

"Yes, Leonardo?" Splinter answered.

Leonardo bowed low. He felt oddly calm. He had made his decision and it was for the best. Everyone would be happier that way.

"I respectfully inform you that I'm resigning from my role as leader, from now on."