Ninjas (By Affi)

Ninjas... I am sure you all know about them and have some favourite ones already. ^^ Ninjas were famous for walking in shadows for their missions without any mistakes and they always stay hidden. Let's get to know more about them a little bit more today. ^^

A ninja or shinobi was a covert agent or mercenary in feudal Japan. The functions of a ninja included; espionage, sabotage, infiltration, assassination, and guerrilla warfare. Their covert methods of waging irregular warfare was deemed dishonorable and beneath the samurai as they observed strict rules about honor and combat. The shinobi properly trained a specific group of spies and mercenaries who appeared in the 15th century during the Sengoku period but antecedents suggest they may have existed as early as the 12th century.

(from Wikipedia)

Historically the word ninja was not commonly used and a variety of regional colloquialisms evolved to describe what would later be dubbed as the ninja. Along with the shinobi some examples include monomi ("one who sees"), nokizaru ("macaque on the roof"), rappa ("ruffian"), kusa ("grass"), and Iga-mono ("one from Iga"). In historical documents a shinobi is almost always used.

By the Sengoku period, the shinobi had several roles which included; spying (kancho), scouting (teisatsu), a surprise attacker (kishu), and an agitator (konran). The ninja families were organized into larger guilds and each with their own territories so a system of rank was created. A jonin ("upper man") was the highest rank, representing the group and hiring out mercenaries. This is followed by the chunin ("middle man"), assistants to the jonin. At the bottom was the genin ("lower man"), field agents drawn from the lower class and assigned to carry out actual missions.

The ninja did not always work alone. Teamwork techniques existed. 

Most ninjutsu techniques recorded in scrolls and manuals revolved around ways to avoid detection and methods of escape. These techniques were loosely grouped under corresponding natural elements. Some examples are:

Hitsuke: The practice of distracting guards by starting a fire away from the ninja's planned point of entry. Falls under "fire techniques" (katon-no-jutsu).

Tanuki-gakure: The practice of climbing a tree and camouflaging oneself within the foliage. Falls under "wood techniques" (mokuton-no-jutsu).

Ukigusa-gakure: The practice of throwing duckweed over water in order to conceal underwater movement. Falls under "water techniques" (suiton-no-jutsu).

Uzura-gakure: The practice of curling into a ball and remaining motionless in order to appear like a stone. Falls under "earth techniques" (doton-no-jutsu).

Ninja used a large variety of tools and weaponry some of which were quite common but others were more specialized. Most were tools used in the infiltration of castles.

The katana was probably the ninja's weapon of choice, and was sometimes carried on the back. An array of darts, spikes, knives, and sharp, star-shaped discs which were known collectively as a shuriken. While not exclusive to the ninja, they were an important part of their arsenal where they could be thrown in any direction. Bows were used for sharpshooting and some ninjas' bows were intentionally made smaller than the traditional yumi (longbow). The chain and sickle (kusarigama) was also used by the ninja. Later, explosives such as hand-held bombs and grenades were adopted by the ninja.

Superhuman or supernatural powers were often associated with the ninja. Some legends include flight, invisibility, shapeshifting, the ability to "split" into multiple bodies, the summoning of animals, and control over the five classical elements (Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and Void). We can see so many examples for this in anime.

Okay, enough with real stuff. Now let's see some cool ninjas in anime.

Kakashi Hatake from Naruto

Ituchi Uchiha from Naruto

Saizo Kirigakure from Brave 10 and Sengoku Night Blood.

(Saizo is a very famous ninja in real world.)

There are fake ninjas in anime too. They try to act like a cool ninja but fail miserably almost all the time.... XD

Tsukumo from Nanbaka

Sasuke Sarutobi from Ikemen Sengoku: Toki wo Kakeru ga Koi wa Hajimaranai

(This one can do some ninjetsu without failing and it says he learned his skills from YouTube!?... Lmao...)

Let's see the questions now,

1. Do you like ninjas?

2. Who is your favourite ninja in anime?

3. Best Shinobi anime you have watched so far?

4. Your most favourite weapon that ninjas use?

5. Who do you prefer? Samurai or Ninja?

Phew...It took long than I thought but it's ninjas we are talking about so I can't help it! ^^'

Anyway hope you guys have a sweet day today! ^^