Marvel Comics

In issue #21 of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, it was revealed that Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow have the same tattoo, (the Arashikage Clan tattoo). 

Later stories described how Thomas (Tommy) Arashikage, after receiving his initial training in order to become a member of the clan, participates in the Vietnam War and served in a Long Range Recon Patrol (LRRP).  There he met Snake-Eyes. The two soldiers became close friends. Tommy was so impressed by Snake-Eyes' fighting skills, he offered him a place in his "family business" when the war was over.

For Snake-Eyes, it was not long before he returned home. Their LRRP unit was attacked by North Vietnamese soldiers, and a patrol of six became a patrol of three. Tommy, Snake-Eyes and Stalker were the only members of the team to escape. During the escape, Snake-Eyes was wounded and was sent back to America. On arrival, Snake-Eyes discovered that his parents and twin sister had been killed in an automobile accident. After wandering for a time, Snake-Eyes decided to travel to Japan and join the clan as Tommy had asked him to (issue #26 of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero). He was welcomed into the Arashikage household and became as skilled as any other ninja.

Cobra Commander learns of this and, angry with Snake-Eyes because of a car accident in which Snake-Eyes family and Cobra Commander's brother were killed, sends Firefly to kill Snake-Eyes.

Snake-Eyes became the Hard Master's star pupil. In some ways, his skills surpassed Tommy's.

When Firefly saw how skilled Snake-Eyes was, he knew he could not kill him. He then referred Cobra Commander to Zartan. Zartan became the apprentice of Onihashi, the Arashikage swordsmith. One night, he stole one of Tommy's arrows and using a compound bow with enhanced sensors, he killed the man behind a screen in the clan's household, believing him to be Snake-Eyes. It actually turned out to be the Hard Master, teaching Snake-Eyes the "Cloak of the Chameleon." The technique allowed someone to take on the mannerisms and motions of another person. The Hard Master had pretended to be Snake-Eyes.

Tommy was blamed for the assassination of the Hard Master and fled. He joined Cobra, vowing to rise through the ranks of the organization and discover who had killed the Hard Master and exact revenge on him. He called himself "Storm Shadow," a rough translation of "Arashikage." With the death of the Hard Master and the departure of Storm Shadow, the clan was in ruins. Most of the ninjas scattered and the clan was no more.

Years later, Storm Shadow and Snake-Eyes discovered that Zartan had killed the Hard Master. Storm Shadow vowed to avenge his uncle's death, but Zartan escaped him. Shortly afterward, Zartan contacted many of the scattered Arashikage ninjas. He hired them to protect him against Storm Shadow's threat.

These "Red Ninjas" blamed Storm Shadow  for destroying the clan by inviting an outsider, Snake-Eyes, to join. They began to work for Zartan and Cobra, and fought Snake-Eyes, Storm Shadow and their allies on many occasions.

The Red Ninjas were later summoned by Firefly, who posed as an Arashikage master. When they found out Firefly had lied to them, they abandoned him. The Red Ninjas' current whereabouts are unknown.

Some of the Arashikage clan still survives today. The G.I. Joe Ninja Force was comprised of Storm Shadow, Snake Eyes. Its inaugural members are Nunchuk, T'Jbang, and Dojo, students of the Hard Master, Soft Master and Blind Master.

In the Marvel Comics G.I. Joe series, Ninja Force goes to Beirut to answer a call for help from Snake-Eyes. They become involved in helping a Joe/Cobra force fight against the Night Creepers, with further assistance comes from the Joe "Sky Commandos". The Ninja Force is seen later in New York, undergoing intensive training. Ninja Force's roster is later expanded to include Snake-Eyes (as their new leader), Jinx, and Scarlett.

Some former members of the Ninja Force have recently opened a martial arts school in New York City. Undoubtedly, some of their students will choose to follow the path of the ninjas, and the Arashikage clan may one day rise again.