Shinigami’s Mother, Kitsune
For those who don’t know, Kitsune is originally from the TMNT comics. She was a witch from the Foot Clan, one of Shredder’s allies, and the turtle’s enemy.
In my 2012 version she is old friends with Splinter, Shredder, and Tang Shen when they were all younger. Growing up she was a prodigy in illusions and dark magic, often entertaining her friends with her magic. Sadly Kitsune grew to hate how Shredder and Splinter constantly fought for Shen’s affection which led to her to resent her friend group, especially Shen. She left her friends and her home and didn’t stay in contact with anyone for years, eventually having a daughter named Shinigami from the result of a fling she had with a man who abandoned her shortly after finding out she was pregnant.
Raising her daughter alone, Kitsune was a loving and supportive mother towards Shini, teaching her daughter all that she knows about the dark arts, teaching her new powers and tricks, such as shapeshifting (Kitsune can turn into a fox and Shini can turn into a black cat), and even later giving her daughter her signature weapon she uses in the show (Shini’s cats eyes Hypno ball with the crescent moon blade).
Years later Shredder reunited with Kitsune and offered for her 6 year old daughter Shini to join the Foot Clan as a Kunoichi. Despite hating Shredder, she accepted and quickly saw through his lies when meeting his daughter Karai (ex: she knows Karai is Miwa and Shredder isn’t her real father, how Shredder is using Kitsune as his pawn like everyone else and she knows it) but you know what they say: “keep your friends close and your enemies closer” ;)
So Kitsune’s willing to play along with Shredder’s game until the time is right to strike. Besides it’s also more fun to watch Karai figure out the truth for herself rather than just telling her, right??