Clan

THE ARASHIKAGE CLAN

In the G.I. Joe action figures, comics, animated TV series and movie,  Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes were members in the Arashikage Ninja Clan. The assasination of the Hard Master (Storm Shadow's uncle) turned the "blood brothers" rivalry into bitter hatred as years later they find themselves on opposing sides, with Snake Eyes on the G.I. Joe team and Storm Shadow joining COBRA.

History of the Clan

Centuries ago, the Emperor of Japan asked his general of the Arashikage clan (that was a renowned family of ninjas), to protect the Jewel of Amaterasu (from the Shinto Goddess, Amaterasu), a gem said to allow the bearer power to control the Ki/chi around him. The gem was so well concealed, that its location was lost with the ascendancy of emperors and the general's family (the Arashikage clan) became farmers.  The name, Arashikage (ah-rah-she-kah-gay) is a combination of two Japanese words: Arashi, meaning Storm, and Hikage, meaning Shadow. 

Only those who truly prove their worth, and commitment to the Arashikage katas and discipline, were allowed full membership into the clan. This was denoted by the tattooing of the clan symbol on their lower right forearms: a red  I Ching Hexagram meaning "fire over water" and "attainment of goals," literally.  "Through tenacity one can overcome adversity."

From within their temple in Japan, the Arashikage clan has spawned some of the world's most elite ninja warriors. Many famous techniques were developed and mastered over the centuries by the Arashikage. These techniques, through countless hours of repetition, have made the Arashikage ninja a very formidable and proficient human weapon.

For generations, the Arashikage worked as shadowy assassins, using deception to earn their keep as ninjas, as well as developing a reputation for being able to perform impossible tasks. 

Later, the Arashikage would continue the deception, financing front businesses to hide their true work as covert operatives, bounty hunters, thieves, and contract killers. Their remote compound was hidden in the mountains of Japan.

Japan's military class, the Bakufu clan, began destroying all ninja clans in Japan in the late 11th century. For years, war ensued and the Arashikage clan ultimately became farmers, passing down it's teachings to family members, generation after generation, practicing in secret.  It wasn't until WWII, when the practices of the ninja were needed, that the Arashikage Clan, as well as other dormant clans, became fully active again. 

Reclaiming their temple in Kyoto, the Arashikage clan remained fairly neutral throughout the war, choosing less to use their skills for their government than to build themselves a larger power base by recruiting.  When the war ended, the Arashikage were the largest functioning clan in Japan.  They continued to recruit members, but guarded the most secret techniques among only immediate, direct descent family, passing these down generation through generation as had been done centuries before.

The Arashikage clan remained large, growing and expanding it's power base to other parts of the world, having a sect in both Tibet and Outer Mongolia.

Over time, many masters have taken charge of developing these warriors and leading the Arashikage clan. Eventually this duty befell the individual known as the HARD MASTER, along with his brother the SOFT MASTER. 

The prodigal son of the clan, the nephew of the HARD MASTER and the SOFT MASTER, Thomas S. Arashikage, was born in San Francisco, CA in the United States.  Technically an American, he was still raised with his birthright as an Arashikage descendant.  After completing his training, Thomas left his home in Japan to participate in the 1960's Vietnam War and sharpen his skills.  It was during this time when he met Snake-Eyes, the two became as close as brothers.  After the war, Thomas brought him into the clan at the behest of his uncles, both of whom still controlled the clan. 

This was a controversial act, as Snake-Eyes was a gaijin, and forbidden to learn the techniques.  Still, the two uncles saw something in him.  It was during this training that the Hard Master realized the aptitude of Thomas' comrade and his commitment to the Arashikage training. Eventually surpassing the skill of the Young Master, in the eyes of the Hard, a rivalry was created between the two students  and, after many years, Snake-Eyes was considered to be the next master of the clan. 

This decision split the clan in two sides, those that remained loyal to the masters, and the vast majority, those that were opposed to a gaijin in their midst.  A revolt was led by Sato, one of the most respected ninja masters amongst the Arashikage's ranks, to kill the uncles and Tommy and take over the clan. A battle erupted between the faithful Arashikage and the renegades. The renegade ninjas were defeated and allowed to leave with their lives and never return. They became known as the Red Ninjas who later affiliated themselves with COBRA.

Later, an assassin was sent by a young COBRA COMMANDER to the Arashikage temple to assassinate the Young Master's rival. Mistakenly, the assassin's arrow landed in the Hard Master rather than the intended target. The clan mistakenly blamed Thomas for his uncle's murder, which led to his defection from the clan. Thomas eventually joined the COBRA organization and adopted the moniker of STORM SHADOW while his rival became known as SNAKE EYES and would later join the GI JOE team. These two warriors would continue their storied rivalry, which began many years ago on the grounds of the Arashikage Temple.

Family:

Hard Master - The leader of the Arashikage clan and Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow's master. He was assassinated by Zartan when the latter was trying to kill Snake Eyes. He is voiced by Charlie Adler in G.I. Joe: Resolute and by Keone Young in G.I. Joe: Renegades. In the film G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, he is played by Gerald Okamura.

Obake-Obaason - The wife of the Hard Master.

Soft Master  - Hard Master's youngest brother and Dojo master. Murdered by Scrap-Iron while traveling with Billy Kessler.

Young Master - Thomas S. Arashikage (Storm Shadow) - Hard Master and Soft Master's nephew. He was blamed for his uncle's murder and the clan's ultimate demise.

Kimi Arashikage (Jinx)- Storm Shadow's cousin. Trained originally by the Blind Master and later by Snake Eyes.

Middle Master - Older brother of Hard Master and Soft Master who worked as a secret agent during World War II, and passed the Arashikage secrets to his disciples. After he died, his son continued his work in Brooklyn where Storm Shadow, Snake Eyes and Billy found him, after hearing about an unknown Arashikage dojo.

Honorary:

Silent Master  (Snake Eyes)  - An American war veteran who joined the clan after Storm Shadow saved his life during the Vietnam War. He is Hard Master's most talented student and appointed heir of the clan leadership.

Blind Master - Sensei Moore is an honorary member of the clan who was taken in and trained by the Hard Master. He later opened a dojo in Denver, Colorado.  Jinx, Billy Kessler, Nunchuk and an orphan called Tyrone were his protégés. He was murdered by Zartan, however once he realized that he had been used by Cobra, a penitent Zartan took his place. In the 2013 film G.I. Joe: Retaliation, the Blind Master is played by RZA.

Sean Collins (Kamakura) - A G..I. Joe recruit and the son of Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow's Vietnam mate Wade Collins. Snake Eyes' most prominent apprentice.

William (Billy) Kessler - The son of Cobra Commander. He was trained as a ninja by Storm Shadow.

Michael Russo (Dojo) - "The talkative one" as he refers to himself. He wields a Kusarigama (a chain-sickle weapon); Soft Master's pupil.

Ralph Badducci (Nunchuk) - Expert in blunt weapons; Blind Master's pupil.

San LaQuale (T'jbang) - Storm Shadow's second cousin; Onihashi's pupil.

T'Gin-Zu - Student of Storm Shadow who considers him his most talented pupil.

Tiger Claw - A young recruit obsessed with martial arts flicks. Trained originally by Iron Master and later by Snake Eyes.

Ophelia - Snake Eyes' apprentice. She was killed by Firefly during the events of the Master and Apprentice saga.

Junko Aikiro - Storm Shadow's apprentice and lover. She was tortured by Sei Tin and Slice and Dice, which resulted in her death in the Master and Apprentice 2 saga.

Sato - Once one of the most respected ninja masters among the Arashikage's ranks (see Enemies section). 

Red Ninjas - Members of the Arashikage clan (See Enemies section).

Onihashi - The Arashikage's mystic swordsmith who trained T'Jbang and Zartan and fathered the Vypra Twins. He committed a ritual suicide after finding out Zartan's true intentions.

Iron Master - Another mystic swordsmith. He appeared only in the one-shot DVD G.I. Joe: Ninja Battles as the narrator. Tiger Claw was originally his protégé.

Anibal Alcazar - Former student of the Hard Master. Alcazar later hired Storm Shadow to kill him when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Storm Shadow refused, and Alcazar retreated to Japan for meditation before he died.

Budo - A martial arts master and a gifted sword fighter, later becomes a boyfriend to Jinx in the Master and Apprentice saga. He wears armor used by his samurai ancestors. When Cobra ninjas attack, Budo the Samurai Warrior is ready to strike with speed and skill.

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Frenemies:

The Red Ninjas - Renegade members of the Arashikage clan. At one point led by Master Sato, then by Sei Tin, and later by T'Jbang.

Enemies:

The Blue Ninjas - A group of cybernetically enhanced ninjas with a vendetta against the Arashikage. They were responsible for the murder of Billy Kessler in G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #172.

Faceless Master (Firefly) - Originally a member of the Koga clan, infiltrated the Arashikage clan in order to kill Snake-Eyes, but later refused to do so and referred the job to Zartan.

Night Creepers - A syndicate of hi-tech ninjas/corporate mercenaries hired by Cobra as spies and assassins.

Black Dragon Ninjas - The Black Dragon Ninjas were originally a cabal of spies operating before the Cold War and were destroyed by the original G.I. Joe Team led by General Joseph Colton over 30 years ago.

The "Black Dragon Leader" survived to rebuild the organization, which now serves as Cobra Commander's personal guard, providing him with advanced weapons and tactical data. Each Black Dragon ninja is known to carry non-traditional bladed or custom-designed weaponry.

Cobra Ninja Vipers - Often called "Cobra Ninja Troopers", recruited from the highest Cobra Viper corps' ranks for their cunning and ruthlessness. Extremely obedient and always carry out their orders to the letter. At one point hand-picked and trained by Storm Shadow.

Sei Tin (Satan) - Red Ninjas' Leader, and ultimate Grand Master with special mental abilities. Disabled by Snake-Eyes.

Slice - A British Cobra Command agent described as "brutally efficient" who based his skills on the scorpions' attack patterns. Never officially confirmed, but he is suspected to be a former Arashikage member, Storm Shadow's pupil.

Dice - A sadistic ninja forsaken by the Night Creepers for his brutality. Slice's partner.

Slash - Renegade ninja recruited for Cobra and trained by Storm Shadow. A graceful fighter who based his technique on the moves of the praying mantises.

Shadow Strike - Another Storm Shadow pupil, A Cobra infiltrated agent with the mission to "corrupt" the clan from within. Exclusive character from the "Ninja Battles" saga.

Sato - Once one of the most respected ninja masters amongst the Arashikage's ranks. He got embittered of Hard Master's attentions towards Snake-Eyes. He planned the first attempt to assassinate Hard Master and later Storm Shadow, blaming the latter for the clan's corruption and ultimate disbanding.

The Vypra Twins - Daughters of the sacred swordsmith, Onihashi. The Vypra Twins became mercenaries in the employ of Cobra.

Dark Master - Rogue ninja master exiled to cave beneath Arashikage Mountain for betraying the ninja clans. Introduced in the last wave of Sigma 6 figures as "Dark Ninja Master"; before the series and corresponding toy line was canceled. Re-introduced in the 2013 G.I.JOE Retaliation toy line.

Rivals of the Arashikage clan also include the Koga, Omikana, Nichira and Bakufu clans.