The ninja has become such an archetypal figure in the world of pop culture that ninjafans assume they know all there is to know about the shadowy assassins in black because they've seen all the movies and read all the books.
However, most of those books and movies leave out all the real cool ways ninjas used elements in their surroundings to their advantage, and the nifty little gadgets that aided them in their stealthy pursuits.
Need to cross a moat or pond in a hurry? Historians believe ninjas strapped pontoon like devices to their feet called Mizu Gumo (Water Spider), which folded up nicely and helped aid in their escape.
Shuriken are cool and katanas slice real nice, but there’s nothing like silently delivering a dose of poison via hairpin, or scratching your way to victory with the Neko-Te (cat’s paw) weapon used primarily by the kunoichi (female ninja).
Want to learn more about the tools found in a real ninja’s arsenal? Check out 10 Stealthy And Dangerous Ninja Tools You Didn’t Know Existed and you'll gain a better appreciation of the ninja's crafty nature.