#I math Leo's efficiency between two and three times whatever a human can survive

[terrestrialnoob]

I like to headcanon that Draxum had a specific plan for what he wanted for each turtle when he mutated them. I play into the obvious with Raph, Mikey, and Donnie. Raph was made to be a big brawler, a tank, something that could both deal and take a lot damage. Mikey was made to have an affinity for magic and spiritualism. Donnie was made to be a genius engineer. These are specifically the traits Draxum values in a person, in himself, a Warrior, a Mystic, and a Scientist. But for Leo, I like to think Draxum went for efficiency.

It doesn't make sense for Draxum to make Leo "to be a leader", Draxum didn't need a strategy guy, he was the strategy guy. What he thought he needed from Leo was a persistence predator. I can see him at first thinking it should be speed but then realizing it’s more about stamina and resource conservation.

Which means, Leo isn't an insomniac, he was literally made to not need as much sleep. He also needs less food and less water, and his body uses oxygen so efficiently he doesn't need to breathe as much. His healing is faster too so it take less time to get him moving after an injury. He wasn't made to be smarter, his intelligence wasn't buffed like Donnie's, but being more efficient in all other things, makes him think more efficiently. He needs less time to learn new things, less time to adapt to new situations and environments, and less pieces of information before putting together the bigger picture. Together, Leo might not be the fastest but he can definitely run the furthest distance and isn't slowed down by unfamiliar or shifting terrain.

Leo's the strategy man by accident, because what Leo was supposed to do was out survive his enemies. He's supposed to go days on end, no food, water, or sleep, hunting until whatever he's chasing gives up or dies from exhaustion. He's supposed to stand there while the environment kills his opponents around him. He was made to still be standing after everyone else is dead.