In an attempt to renew interest in the series, "Fast Forward" became the fifth season to air on commercial TV, while Mirage and its partners decided to finish production on the "Ninja Tribunal" episodes and release them directly to DVD.
[4] Following on from the previous season's cliffhanger ending, the Turtles and the four acolytes – Joi, Feragi, Tora, and Adam – are brought to the Ninja Tribunal's monastery to begin training to combat an unknown evil.
Splinter and the Ancient One arrive at the monastery, the former aggressively opposing the Turtles' affiliation with the Tribunal, because of their disinterest in aiding Hamato Yoshi against the Utrom Shredder that could have saved his life.
The Foot Mystics soon successfully revive the Tengu Shredder, who rampages through New York to kill Karai, who he deems an insult to his name due to her taking on the mantle in the last season.
[5] Raph, Don, Casey, and April's evening salvage operation lands them a one-way ticket to Recycle World – the Garbageman's deadly realm of refuse!