In Japan, Shirai Ryu grandmaster Hanzo Hasashi and his young son Satoshi are ambushed on their way home by several ninjas from the rival Lin Kuei clan. Hanzo kills them all after discovering that the Lin Kuei have slaughtered the rest of the Shirai Ryu, including his wife Harumi. The Lin Kuei's Grandmaster Sub-Zero appears, uses his freezing abilities to restrain Hanzo in ice and then murders Satoshi. He then impales Hanzo through the neck with an icicle, killing him. Deep below in the depths of the Netherrealm, Hanzo is mysteriously resurrected and meets with the sorcerer Quan Chi, who persuades Hanzo to fight for him in the tournament so that he can exact his revenge on Sub-Zero. Hanzo agrees, dubbing himself Scorpion.