A/n Alright everyone welcome to my newest TMNT story. I'd like the thank in-umbra for the suggestion. This is a Leo centric story and takes place during the first season of the 2012 series. But they already know Casey since I prefer stories with him in it.I hope you all enjoy it and as usual I don't own TMNT or its characters. Enjoy.

Life of a Leader

Ch 1 Pressure Mounts

A mutant rat with a brown coat and thoughtful brown eyes was thinking. This rat was Hamato Yoshi, or he was better known as: Splinter. Splinter was deep in thought as four mutant turtles stood before him, pleading looks on all of their face. "Please Sensei can we go?" Splinter's youngest son, Michelangelo, was saying.

"Yeah I think we're old enough now to know right from wrong," Splinter's second oldest son, Raphael put in.

"We'll be careful," Splinter's second youngest son, Donatello chimed in. "We promise."

"Hmm," Splinter said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. Then he looked at his oldest son, Leonardo, who had said nothing this entire time. "And what do you think Leonardo?" the wise old rat asked, surprising his blue masked son.

"I.." Leonardo began. "I think...no I know we're ready Sensei."

"Then who am I to disagree?" Splinter said with a smile.

"Does that mean we can go on patrol?" Michelangelo asked, his blue eyes lighting up.

"That is exactly what that means," Splinter said with a smile. "Besides you four have been up there numerous times. I think you are ready to patrol the city."

"Thank you Sensei," the four turtles said, hugging their father who smiled and hugged them back.

"You are most welcome my sons," Splinter said with a slight laugh. "However before you go I need to discuss something with you."

"Ah man," the turtles grumbled, clearly unhappy with the situation.

"Unless you would prefer not going on patrol at all," Splinter said, giving his sons looks. This caused them to shut their mouths and stand at full attention. "That is better," Splinter said. "Now as you all know there are many dangers on the surface. And you will most likely get into a fight. I want you all to be prepared for this. Therefore I have decided that you need a leader that will make all the decisions in battle. You are to listen to him no matter what he may say. And when I am not around you will give him the same respect you would me. Understand?"

"Hei Sensei," the four brothers said with a bow.

"Heh bet he picks me," Raphael whispered to Leonardo, who rolled his eyes. "I'm clearly the better fighter here," the red masked turtle whispered.

"Sure you are," Michelangelo muttered, causing Raphael to growl at him. Splinter loudly cleared his throat causing Raphael to snap back into attention.

"I have been considering this for quite some time," Splinter continued. "And I have weighed in all of your good points and your bad ones as well. And the one I have chosen is not only honorable but he is learning very quickly and is already a skilled fighter."

"Heh he's talkin' 'bout me," Raphael muttered with a smile.

"That is why I have chosen Leonardo to be the leader," Splinter said. Michelangelo and Donatello let out sighs of relief and patted their oldest brother on the back. Leonardo's blue eyes were wide as he was genuinely shocked by Splinter's choice.

"What?!" Raphael cried out, his green eyes flashing with anger. "You're choosin' Leo over me?!"

"You are learning the skills quite well Raphael," Splinter said. "But there is much you can learn about controlling your temper. Your anger makes you lash out and make rash decisions. Leonardo is very level headed and rarely shows his anger. That is why I chose him to be leader. And you must accept that."

"If you say so Sensei," Raphael said, knowing it would be pointless to argue with Splinter.

"Thank you Sensei for the honor," Leonardo said with a bow.

"You are welcome my son," Splinter said, placing his hands on Leonardo's shoulders. "I am very proud of you and I know you will lead your brothers well."

"I will do my best," Leonardo said with a smile.

"I know you will," Splinter said with a smile of his own. "You may go now. Be careful my sons."

"We will," the four brothers called out as they headed out of the lair.

TMNTTMNTTMNT

A few minutes later the turtles had met up with their friends, April O'Neil and Casey Jones. The two teens smiled at their friends, who smile back. All except for Raphael, who crossed his arms with a grunt. "What's with you Raph?" Casey asked.

"Nothin'," was the red masked turtle's response.

"Heh he's just pouting," Michelangelo said with a laugh. "He's all mad 'cause Sensei just made Leo leader instead of him."

"Shut up Mikey!" Raphael shouted, glaring at his youngest brother.

"Raph don't be like that," Leonardo said.

"Don't fucking tell me what to do Leo!" Raphael snarled, glaring at his oldest brother.

"You see this is exactly why Splinter chose me to be leader and not you," Leonardo pointed out. "Your temper always gets the better of you Raph. A good leader should be calm even under the most extreme circumstances."

"Go to Hell Leo," Raphael spat out, still glaring at his brother.

"You know what?" Leonardo shot back. "You have no right to be pissed at me Raph! I didn't ask to be leader. Splinter chose me. I can't help it if he thinks I'm the best turtle for the job."

"You've always been Splinter's favorite," Raphael said, his voice still having an edge to it. "And this just proves my point."

"Raph that isn't true," Leonardo said, his voice having the same edge to it. "Splinter could have just as easily picked Donnie or Mikey to be leader. Hell if you weren't such a damn hot head he would've chosen you!"

"Dude I'm glad Sensei didn't pick me," Michelangelo said. "Too much responsibility."

"Yeah like you had a chance in Hell of being picked," Raphael said, rolling his green eyes.

"Raph please try and accept this," Leonardo pleaded. "We need to be one team here. And like it or not I'm leader now. Can you guys take orders from me?"

"Of course we can Leo," Donatello said with a smile.

"For real bro," Michelangelo said, putting his arm around Leonardo. "We got your back. Right Raph?" Michelangelo looked at his red masked brother when he said this part.

"Whatever," Raphael said, crossing his arms once again.

"Uh guys I hate to break up this family love feast," April said. "But we've got a problem." The redhead teen pointed to an stock where house that held medical supplies when she said this part. A group of black clad thugs were loading stuff into the back of a van.

"Alright," Leonardo said, getting out his katanas. "We need a plan. Mikey you and April go in from the left. Donnie see if you can get on top of the van and disable the engine. Raph you..."

"Here's an idea," Raphael said, impatiently. "Lets just go and kick their asses."

"Raph we need a plan," Leonardo insisted. "Its the best way to..."

"Here's what I think of your plan," Raphael said as he pulled his sais out and went in with Casey right behind him.

"Raph no!" Leonardo cried out. "Wait! We have to..." But his words fell on deaf ears as his directly younger brother was already gone. "Damn it," Leonardo cursed. "Why wouldn't he listen to me?"

"Um Leo?" Michelangelo said, snapping his blue masked brother out of his funk. "Should we like go or something?"

"Yeah," Leonardo said. "Donnie the van. April and Mikey with me. Lets move out!" With that the group went into action. But thanks to Raphael's actions the thieves were already in fight mode and when Donatello attempted to disable the van the thugs quickly stopped him. The purple masked turtle was able to fend some of them off but they had skill like the turtles did and it wasn't long before the genius turtle was disabled. The thugs picked Donatello up by his arms and legs and threw him over the side of the van.

"Hey!" Donatello cried out and he sailed to the ground. He hit the hard cement with a thud and groaned in pain as he landed hard on his arm. Looking up Donatello's brown eyes went wide as he saw two of the thugs hovering over him. One of them had his bo staff in his hand and hand the sharp end sticking out. The other thug pinned Donatello to the ground and his partner raised the bo to slice Donatello's throat.

A/N Alrighty then ch 1 complete. Hope you all liked it. Let me know in a review please.