Ninjas appear in films, cartoons, games, and books all the time: You might imagine them dressed all in black, leaping across rooftops, throwing stars, and disappearing in clouds of smoke. But were ninjas real? And if they were, what were they actually like?

Let?s find out.

Ninjas really did exist in Japan about 500 years ago, during a time when many powerful lords were fighting for land and control. This period is called feudal Japan.

Most warriors at that time were samurai. Samurai fought openly, followed strict rules, and wore armour. Ninjas were different. They were hired to do jobs that samurai were not supposed to do, such as: spying on enemies sneaking into castles carrying secret messages gathering information

So ninjas were more like secret agents than action heroes.

They were trained to: move quietly hide in shadows climb walls and trees use clever tricks to escape

Ninjas did learn martial arts, but fighting was not their main job. Their most important skill was not being seen.

The famous black ninja outfit is mostly from plays and movies. Real ninjas usually dressed like ordinary people, farmers, traders, or monks, so they could blend in and not look suspicious.

They also used tools, such as: ropes and hooks for climbing smoke to confuse enemies small blades hidden pockets for messages

But they were not magical. They could not vanish, fly, or defeat dozens of enemies at once. Those parts belong to stories and films.

So why do we still talk about ninjas today? Because they show us something important about history: Not all heroes fight in the same way. Some work quietly in the background. Information can be just as powerful as weapons. Real ninjas were clever, patient, and observant. They used their brains more than their fists. And that makes them just as interesting as the legends.