I decided to do a part of my website to ninjas because it annoys me when I look at the amount of people who know nothing about them. Everyone thinks that ninjas use katanas and numbchucks, but this is not true. In fact, the ninja has its own unique history and tools of the trade...I should know I almost became one (LOOONNNNGG story trust me). I thought that others did the history and tool list better than I could on my short time schedule so I decided to post them up here and just source the places I got them from. I apologize if it is incomplete.

History of the Ninja
Source: http://www.entertheninja.com

The history of the Ninja is hard to trace. This is because there were few, if any records kept of its existance. Most of what is known about the ninja is taken from stories that have been passed down from generation to generation.

Nonuse ("the art of stealth") was first introduced to Japan in 522 A.D. as a religion practiced by priests. These priests were not violent people, they were "mystics" who gathered and shared information for the ruling classes. The ninja as we know them were not introduced until later.

It wasn't until 645 A.D. that the priests perfected their fighting skills and made use of their knowledge of nonuse. This was because they found themselves being harassed by the central government and found in necessary to protect themselves.

In 794-1192 A.D. the new civilization flourished and with it, a new class of wealthy, privileged families. These families fought with one another in attempts to make or destroy emperors. The need for spies, informants and now assassins grew as these families dueled for power. They were suspicious and jealous of one another and would resort to any means necessary to eliminate any possible threats. Therefore, the practitioners of nonuse were in great demand. With this, the ninja was born.

As the ninja gained popularity, so did the stories of their superhuman abilities. This reputation was often encouraged by the ninja themselves. Because they were a relatively weaker people then their counterparts, the samurai, and were vulnerable to attack by the many warring families around them, it was to their advantage to have others believe they had such powers. Powers like having the strength of ten men, ability to turn into animals, fly and become invisible at will. The ninja movies also added to the abilities by having the ninja jump over buildings in a single jump, catch bullets in their teeth and see into the future.

At this point you must understand the samurai to truly understand just why the ninja were so effective and in such demand. The samurai's life was to "live by the sword, die by the sword", with no fear of death at all. His sword was his whole life, his soul. With this he followed the warriors code of honor, the Bushido. The bushido was to be followed at all times. If a samurai were to stray from the code he would then commit seppuku, another term for hara-kiri. This was a ritual suicide where they would cut their stomach open with their smaller sword.

The ninja followed no such code. Their only code was to do whatever it takes to get the job done. This gave the ninja a great advantage right away, add the use of a wide variety of weapons and you have a superior warrior. Since the samurai could not sneak into an enemy's house, because it was against their code, they could not carry out such tasks as assassination and sabotage. This is where the ninja came in. And if that meant sneaking up behind a samurai warrior and killing him before he even knew he was in danger, that was very permissible by the ninja. The bushido would never allow for this. For this reason the samurai were afraid of the ninja. A fear the ninja had earned.

Ninja Weapons and Equipment (a quick list).
Source:Ninja Martial Arts

Fukiya- Blow guns used with deadly accurary by the ninjas.Used to take out sentries to stop a pursuing attackers.They were after disuesd as flutes,canes or an billan.Specail darts after with poisened tips were used.

Fiku mi Bai- Tiny dirks which the ninjas kept in his month and then blow it at an antogonist with great accurary.

Hankyir- A small bow used by the ninja after to shoot arrows carrying incendiary device used with which to set fire to enemy encampments.

Hito Washi- A gliding devices used by the ninjas to jump from high points and glide over wall or enmey encampments.Made of bamboo and cloths, it enabled the ninjas to take as the form of human eagle.

Hyakurai -jui- a weapon in which a number of guns where pleded circularly inside a wooden barrel.Ignited by a fuse the lund nouise was effective in starting and confusing a ninja's enemy.

Igaduma- Scattered on the ground to stop a pursuing enemy.Also used by the ninja as a throwing weapon usually effective when thrown in the face.

Jirai- Feudal land mines used by the ninjas to cause confusion and damage to his enemies.These mines were burred underground and used a fused explosive charge to set it off.

Kama Ikada- A small one man raft which could be folded and carried by the ninja.

Kito Gan- A pill used by the ninjas which could delay thrist for number of days.

Kumade- A ninja climbing device made of collassible bamboo and rope.About 9 to 10 pieces of bamboo are joined by a rope which was runs through the center of the bamboo pieces.When the end of the rope is pulled it causes the callapsible device to stiffen into a single anywhere ande facilitate climbing.

Kusarifunlo- Weighted short chain,ranging between 18 to 30 inches in length.It consisted of a chain with two weighted ends.It was used by the ninja to strike an enemy or to entangle his weapon, or to choke him.

Kyobako Fune - A water crossing device which resembleed a wooden chest.Covered by far it was waterproof and could easily be carried by a ninja.

Kyoketsu shoge - A small hand sickle which has as addicational blade projecting from the blade itself.Attached to the luctt of the sickle was a bruided length of a cord made often of animal hair.The end of a cord held a ring device which could be hirled opponent and entangle his armor neck.Then the ninja pulled his attacker close and used to sickle to finish him off.The Kyoketsu Shoge was also used in in climbing,binding an enemy,rasing equipment or dragging heavy loads.

Mitsulushi- Blinding powders used by the ninjas to throw into an enemy's face blinding him momentarly and allowing the ninja to escape.

Mizugumo- water crossing device in which a ninja could stand erect and virtually look like he was walking on water.

Mizukaki- Flipper like device tied to a ninja's feet while swimming to help them move quicker throught the water.Mizu-Taimatsu - A torch used by the ninjas, which could continue to burn even in the water.

Mizuzutsu- A bamboo smorkle tube, which was the ninjas used while submerged.Often it was disgusied as a smoking pipe.

Musubinawa- A length of twisted horse's hair, it was used by the ninja to pull himself up into inaccessible places.It was very strong and easily concealed.

Nage Teppo – A hand grenade like device thrown into enemy encampments to cause damage and confusion

Nekode- A cat claw like device with a spiked surface worn on the hands by the ninja. It allowed him to grip hard surfaces for climbing even up stone walls. The device was also used to grip or scrape an opponent’s face.

Neru Kawaito- a laminated leather shield used by ninjas to hide behind when shoot at by an enemy.

Ninja To – sometimes called SHINOBIGATANA, The swords used by the ninja. Its length was shorter than swords used by the samurai, to allow the ninja to fight in close quarters and to allow him to move easier through small narrow spaces. The scabbard of the sword conceal items such as chemicals, or powders which he would use to overpower his enemies. The scabbard could also be used as a club, breathing tube used while underwater, a lever, a hearing aid or a blowgun. The headguard ( tsuba) of the ninja sword was large, which enabled the ninja to use it as a sort of step ladder by leaning it against a wall then stepping up on the headgurad. He could get over the walls. Then using the extra long scabbard cord he’d pull the sword up after him. This scabbard cord was also often used to band enemies. Because of it short length the ninja used the swords with a full extended arm position, a practice not common by the samurai. Also because the blade was not nearly as sharp as a samurai sword, ninjas relied on body swing to get power out of their swords movements.

Shikoro – a saw with a pointed end used to cut through wood or metal.

Shinobi Kai – A bamboo weapon used by the ninja consisting of a short piece of bamboo, it held a weighted chain which could easily ensnare an attacker at a close range.

Shinobi Kumade- A climbing device used by ninjas. It consisted or short pieces of bamboo which telescope and retracted into a length easily concealable. A rope the length of the device and one of its ends contained a grapping hook to make climbing relatively easy.

Shinobi Zue –a weapon made out of a hollow staff. Inside it was a length of weighted chain, and this could be flung at an attacker surprising him .the chain could be used to ensnare an opponent or his weapon, or it could be used to wrap around a protruding object and this function as a climbing device.

Shuko- Spiked bands which could slip over the hand or foot used mostly climbing up walls, trees, and etc. It could also be used to grab an attacker’s sword or to just rake an attacker’s face or limbs. Also known as a Ashiko.

Shurken- small multi pointed throwing weapons such as dirks, darts, star, etc. These weapons were an integral part of a ninja’s arsenal. The weapon vary design from 3 to 10 points. The two major types of Shurken were the Hira Shurken which were flat with 3 to 8 points radiating from the center, and the 30 Shurken which were straight blade either with one of two points. Most Shurken were aimed at the eyes, temple, throat and arms to slow down an attacker.

To Ki Ninja-Climbing gear, which included numerous devices to get up or down almost anywhere.

Tsual Giri- A fork shaped instrument used to open doors and cut locks.

Torinoko- An egg shaped firecracker which emitted a loud bang was used by the ninja to confuse the enemies.