Ninja
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He who increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow. This article contains spoilers, meaning it has information and facts concerning recent or upcoming releases from the Assassin's Creed series. If you do not want to know about these events, it is recommended to read on with caution, or not at all. |
A ninja (忍者) or shinobi (忍び) was a covert agent in feudal Japan. The skills of a ninja included espionage, deception, and surprise attacks. Ninja originated from the Iga and Koga provinces. They used the covert methods of irregular warfare to accomplish tasks, much to the disgust of the samurai. Despite this, some ninja were samurai that undertook special missions for their vassals. The ninja proper made their appearance in the 15th century, as specially trained spies and mercenaries.[1] Female ninja were also known as kunoichi.[2]
History
During the Sengoku period, the ninja were caught up in the ancient conflict between the Assassins and the Templars when they arrived in Japan through Portuguese traders amidst the turmoil. While some, such as Hattori Hanzō, aligned themselves with the Brotherhood, others chose the Templars, most notably Mochizuki Chiyome.[3]
In 1725, ninja were employed by the Shimazu clan to serve under the Templar Shimazu Saito in Portuguese Macau. Under his orders, they hunted the British Assassin Edward Kenway in pursuit of a log documenting a lost city of the Khmer Empire belonging to the Isu.[4]
The shinobi arts remained integral to the Japanese Brotherhood into the 19th century. For instance, the noblewoman Shiba Atsuko was trained as a shinobi by the Japanese Brotherhood. During the Boshin War, another ninja Assassin, Issa, was assigned a mission to assassinate British Consul Harry Parkes, but he was killed by a Templar, William Lloyd. [5]
By the 21st century, ninja had entered into the imagination of popular culture. In 2020, the Assassin Layla Hassan modified her Animus while reliving the genetic memories of the Viking Eivor Varinsdottir to include a digital model of an armor pack stylized after ninja attire and weaponry.[6]
Appearances
- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (first mentioned)
- Assassin's Creed: Memories (first appearance)
- Assassin's Creed: Fragments – The Blade of Aizu
- Assassin's Creed: Valhalla (Helix Armor Pack)
- Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple
References
- ↑
Ninja on Wikipedia
- ↑ Kunoichi on Wikipedia
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Memories
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Fragments – The Blade of Aizu – [citation needed]
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
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