Tommy Arashikage (Storm Shadow) finds Snake-Eyes drinking in bar and offers to help him by allowing him to join his family business. Snake-Eyes then is saved from an apparent suicide attempt by the man who would become Cobra Commander. Which then sends the two of them on a crime spree that climaxes with a confrontation in front of Judge Mitchell Tate where Snake-Eyes chooses not to kill him, and Cobra Commander does. It is the moment that drives Snake-Eyes to join Tommy in Japan.