Editing Ninjutsu (section)

===Weaponry===
Although shorter swords and daggers were used, the ''[[katana]]'' was probably the ninja's weapon of choice, and was sometimes carried on the back. The ''katana'' had several uses beyond normal combat. In dark places, the scabbard could be extended out of the sword, and used as a long probing device.<ref name="Adams 1970 52">{{Harvnb|Adams|1970|p=52}}</ref> The sword could also be laid against the wall, where the ninja could use the sword guard (''[[Japanese sword mountings#Tsuba|tsuba]]'') to gain a higher foothold.<ref name="Adams 1970 49">{{Harvnb|Adams|1970|p=49}}</ref> The ''katana'' could even be used as a device to stun enemies before attacking them, by putting a combination of red pepper, dirt or dust, and iron filings into the area near the top of the scabbard, so that as the sword was drawn the concoction would fly into the enemy's eyes, stunning him until a lethal blow could be made. While straight swords were used before the invention of the ''katana'',<ref name="Reed 1880 269 270">{{Harvnb|Reed|1880|pp=269–270}}</ref> there's no known historical information about the straight ''[[ninjatō]]'' pre-20th century. The first photograph of a ''ninjatō'' appeared in a booklet by Heishichirō Okuse in 1956.<ref>{{cite book |title=Ninjutsu |last=Okuse|first=Heishichirō |year=1956|location=Osaka |publisher=Kinki Nippon Tetsudō }}</ref>{{Full citation needed|date=January 2025}}<ref>{{cite book |title=Ninja: Unmasking the Myth |last=Turnbull |first=Stephen |author-link=Stephen Turnbull (historian) |year=2018 |publisher=[[Frontline Books]] |isbn=978-1-4738-5042-2 }}</ref> A replica of a ''ninjatō'' is on display at the [[Ninja Museum of Igaryu]].

[[File:Kusarigama-crop.jpg|thumb|A pair of ''[[kusarigama]]'', on display in [[Iwakuni Castle]]]]

An array of [[Dart (missile)|darts]], spikes, [[Knife|knives]], and sharp, star-shaped discs were known collectively as ''[[shuriken]]''.<ref>The Art of Throwing Weapons, James W. Madden (1991)</ref> While not exclusive to the ninja,<ref name="Mol 2003 119">{{Harvnb|Mol|2003|p=119}}</ref> they were an important part of the arsenal, where they could be thrown in any direction.<ref name="ratti 1991 328 329">{{Harvnb|Ratti|Westbrook|1991|pp=328–329}}</ref> [[Bow and arrow|Bows]] were used for sharpshooting, and some ninjas' bows were intentionally made smaller than the traditional ''[[yumi]]'' (longbow).<ref name="ratti 1991 328">{{Harvnb|Ratti|Westbrook|1991|p=328}}</ref> The chain and sickle (''[[kusarigama]]'') was also used by the ninja.<ref name="Adams 1970 55">{{Harvnb|Adams|1970|p=55}}</ref> This weapon consisted of a weight on one end of a chain, and a sickle (''[[Kama (weapon)|kama]]'') on the other. The weight was swung to injure or disable an opponent, and the sickle used to kill at close range.

[[Explosive]]s introduced from China were known in Japan by the time of the [[Mongol invasions of Japan|Mongol Invasions]] in the 13th century.<ref name="Bunch Hellemans2004 161">{{Harvnb|Bunch|Hellemans|2004|p=161}}</ref> Later, explosives such as hand-held bombs and [[grenade]]s were adopted by the ninja.<ref name="ratti 1991 329" /> Soft-cased bombs were designed to release smoke or poison gas, along with fragmentation explosives packed with iron or ceramic [[Fragmentation (weaponry)|shrapnel]].

Along with common ''shinobi buki'' (ninja weapons), a large assortment of miscellaneous arms were associated with the ninja.<ref>Shinobi-no Buki (Ninja Weapons) by Yumio Nawa, August 25, 1967 First Edition</ref> Some examples include [[poison]], ''[[makibishi]]'' ([[caltrop]]s),<ref name="Mol 2003 176">{{Harvnb|Mol|2003|p=176}}</ref> ''[[Japanese sword mountings#Shikomizue|shikomizue]]'' ([[Swordstick|cane swords]]),<ref name="Mol 2003 195">{{Harvnb|Mol|2003|p=195}}</ref> [[land mine]]s,<ref name="draeger smith 1981 127">{{Harvnb|Draeger|Smith|1981|p=127}}</ref> ''[[fukiya]]'' ([[blowgun]]s), [[Arrow poison|poisoned darts]], [[acid]]-spurting tubes, and ''[[teppo jutsu]]'' ([[firearm]]s).<ref name="ratti 1991 329" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.teppojutsu.com/|title=Teppo Jutsu : Advanced Firearms Applications|website=www.teppojutsu.com}}</ref> The ''happō'', a small eggshell filled with ''[[metsubushi]]'' (blinding powder), was also used to facilitate escape.<ref name="Mol 2003 124">{{Harvnb|Mol|2003|p=124}}</ref>