Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins

Snake Eyes refuses to kill Tommy because Tommy was the only person who showed him kindness in Kenta's organization, unlike the other men who were cruel. This act of mercy sets Snake Eyes on a path of conflict with the Yakuza but also earns him Tommy's gratitude, leading to his induction into the Arashikage clan.

Earlier in the underground fight scene, Tommy treats Snake Eyes with respect, foreshadowing the loyalty Snake Eyes shows by refusing to kill him.

Kenta orchestrates Tommy's apparent betrayal and frames it as if Tommy betrayed Snake Eyes personally. This manipulation is designed to make Snake Eyes angry enough to cooperate with Kenta's plan to steal the Jewel of the Sun. Kenta also threatens to kill Snake Eyes' father's killer unless Snake Eyes delivers the jewel to him.

The revelation that Kenta orchestrated Tommy's betrayal to use Snake Eyes as a pawn comes after Snake Eyes has already begun his trials, showing how deeply Kenta's manipulation had infiltrated the narrative.

Snake Eyes is expelled after he confesses to the clan about his deception but cleverly conceals the full extent of his crimes. He stole the Jewel of the Sun and delivered it to Kenta while still keeping secrets about his true motives. The clan discovers his dishonesty during the final trial when his hidden intentions cause him to fail the test of purity.

During the final trial with the sacred anacondas, Snake Eyes becomes vulnerable due to his conflicting loyalties and hidden agenda, foreshadowing his ultimate expulsion.

When Snake Eyes was a young boy named Max Archibald, he witnessed his father's murder. The killers forced him to roll a pair of weighted dice, and rolling double ones resulted in his father's death. This traumatic event gave him the name Snake Eyes and became the driving force behind his lifelong quest for vengeance against his father's killer.

The dice scene establishes the origin of Snake Eyes' name and his vengeance-driven motivation, which persists throughout the entire film as he seeks to find and confront his father's killer.

Tommy becomes Storm Shadow in the post-credits scene when the Baroness recruits him into Cobra. This happens after Sen strips Tommy of his leadership role in the Arashikage clan for using the jewel, and after Snake Eyes' actions lead to Tommy's downfall. Feeling betrayed and expelled, Tommy aligns with Cobra as his new path of vengeance against Snake Eyes.

Tommy's rivalry with Kenta and his secret operations against the Yakuza hint at his willingness to use dangerous methods, foreshadowing his eventual turn to the darker side.

The Jewel of the Sun is a sacred artifact gifted by the Sun God to the Arashikage clan. It possesses magical abilities, and the clan has sworn to protect it without ever using its power for harm. When Kenta obtains the jewel, he becomes intoxicated by its magic and plans to use it to destroy the Arashikage clan.

The clan's reverence for the jewel and their vow to protect it without using its power establishes its importance as both a moral test and a powerful plot device.

When Snake Eyes finally confronts his father's killer, he experiences a moment of clarity and chooses mercy over revenge. This act represents his growth as a character and his rejection of the vengeance that has consumed his life. Instead of killing the man, Snake Eyes chooses a different path, which ultimately leads him to ally with the Arashikage clan and G.I. Joe.

The entire film builds Snake Eyes' journey from a vengeance-driven individual to someone who can let go of his past trauma, with each trial testing his ability to move beyond pure revenge.

Tommy and Snake Eyes become enemies primarily because of Snake Eyes' deception and theft of the Jewel of the Sun. Although Snake Eyes ultimately returns to help the clan fight Kenta, Tommy feels betrayed by Snake Eyes' actions. Additionally, Sen strips Tommy of his leadership role for using the jewel, causing Tommy to renounce his family ties and vow vengeance against Snake Eyes.

The tension between the two characters is established early when Snake Eyes helps Tommy escape, but it escalates as Snake Eyes' hidden motives and eventual betrayal come to light.

Kenta deliberately orchestrates events to make it appear that Tommy has betrayed Snake Eyes, creating false evidence and manipulating circumstances so that Snake Eyes believes Tommy has wronged him. This psychological manipulation is designed to turn Snake Eyes against the clan and make him willing to steal the Jewel of the Sun for Kenta's purposes.

The timeline reveals Kenta's earlier attempt to eliminate Tommy for leadership of the Arashikage clan, establishing his pattern of using betrayal as a strategic tool.

Akiko saves Snake Eyes during the final trial because despite his deception, she recognizes his fundamental goodness and potential for redemption. Her intervention highlights the theme of trust within the clan and shows that even those who have strayed can be given a second chance. This act also demonstrates Akiko's compassionate nature and her belief in Snake Eyes' underlying integrity.

Earlier, Snake Eyes earns Akiko's trust by revealing the traumatic details of his father's death, a confession that establishes a bond between them before his deception is fully revealed.