A fourth-generation Lin Kuei warrior by the name of Sub-Zero made himself a life in America as a cover for his true identity and purpose as an assassin. He had a wife, two sons, and a daughter. His wife wanted a normal life for her sons, so she tried in vain to hide her sons from their father. Eventually, the two sons were found, and their father returned with them to China. Their mother and sister were never seen or heard from again. The older son soon inherited the name of Sub-Zero.

The Ninja
During Japan's feudal period, a renegade Japanese-born Lin Kuei warrior named Takeda returned to his homeland and offered his services to various lords and generals. Many of his skills and techniques were copied and learned throughout Japan, eventually evolving into the art of ninjitsu. Unlike Lin Kuei, the art of ninjitsu involves the use of weapons and magic that can be mastered by any human with enough practice.

The ninjas didn't exist as a single collective clan, but rather worked as a loosely connected spy network made up of several small clans. The first ninja clan was the Shirai Ryu clan, founded by Takeda. These ninjas became foes of the Lin Kuei, and Takeda became a target for assassination.

The Reign of Terror
Soon came the mysterious death of one of the three Mortal Kombat tournament masters, Shang Tsung returned, prematurely aged and weakened from his previous failure, and brought with him the half-human dragon, Goro, a member of the Shokan (a race of four-armed creatures from the Outworld). Together, they unbalanced the furies and tipped the scales of order toward chaos.

In a brutal battle, Goro defeated Kung Lao and became the new Mortal Kombat champion. Shang Tsung took Lao's soul, retaining the former-champion's thoughts and memories. He took control of the Mortal Kombat tournament. It was the beginning of an era that alienated the Shaolin from their own tournament. Goro maintained his title for nine generations, leaving Earth one last opportunity to defend itself against an Outworld invasion. All that was needed was one Earth warrior who could defeat Goro and break the Outworld's streak.

Shang Tsung discovered the location of the sacred Map of Elements through Kung Lao's thoughts and memories. Shao Kahn made him a free-roaming sorcerer for devising a plan that could almost assure The Outworld's success.

About ten years prior to the next tournament, Shang Tsung struck a deal with Quan Chi. In exchange for the location of the map, Shinnok was to take Sindel's soul, taint it with evil, and reincarnate it on the Earth realm, which gave Shao Kahn the ability to step through the dimensional gates between the Earth and Outworld in order to reclaim his queen. This let Kahn overtake Earth and bar Raiden and the elder gods from intervening, whether or not Goro won his tenth victory in Mortal Kombat.