The Arashikage Ninja Clan

Among the notable ninja clans such as the Kōga, Iga, and Hattori which was the premier family within the Iga, there also stands the Shinobi of the Arashikage (Storm Shadow) ninja family. While the powerful Warlord Oda Nobunaga led a massive army that effectively ended the Iga in the late 1500’s, the Arashikage clan came to be not long afterwards and still exists today. One of the aspects that has always been singular to the Arashikage amongst all of the ninja clans, is the use of bright colors in their appearance. The use of brightly colored garments is both a personal and optional choice within the clan once an individual attains a certain status. To wear bright colors, presents an ever present challenge which is meant to keep even the most talented ninja’s skills sharp. A bright wardrobe has come to represent a high degree of proficiency and lethality. As the head of the Arashikage clan, “Tommy” Arashikage aka Storm Shadow made the decision to wear a primarily all white shinobi shōzoku. Wearing this informs everyone that he is perhaps the most formidable within the clan without saying a word. It could be a point of pride, but in point of fact, Storm Shadow is everything he appears to be and more. In his time in the Arashikage, Snake-Eyes rose to prominence in his training and afterwards became one of the clan’s finest Shinobi. Tommy had personally invited and welcomed Snake-Eyes into the fold. While Tommy was proud of Snake-Eyes, Tommy also later harbored an unspoken concern based on the unfounded fear that Snake-Eyes may try to challenge his leadership of the clan. Sensing this, Snake-Eyes made the conscious decision to wear mainly dark colors while operating under the auspices of both G.I.J.O.E. and the Arashikage. In so doing, on a subconscious level, the opposite base color selections of their clothing reflects the opposing sides both men have chosen in the war between G.I.J.O.E. and Cobra.