Welcome to Gaia! ::

Black stands out in the dark. I believe it was a dark grey color....right?

I am not a part of this guild too, but I'd like to make a statement here.

Considering the influx of Chinese culture during one period in Japanese history, it is highly possible that ninjas originate from China, though the idea of forest demons is questionable.

HOWEVER it so happens I have heard stories about the yamabushi, who are said to be the precursors of ninja, being descent from the Tengu (which are, basically, Japanese troll-men). This sounds very similar to the idea that they came from some sort of "forest" or "mountain" demon.

But, that aside, it is my personal belief that they originated in Japan. I have heard that the first ninja clan was founded by a samurai, although I forget his name (and I'm too lazy to scour my notes for the info xd ). This samurai's lord was killed, and he was left with the option of either seppuku or becoming a rounin. Similar to what the ninja would someday belive, this man did not see any sense in committing suicide. It was not only an unnesseccary waste, but wasn't it more honorable to endure shame and redeem oneself by serving your lord? Becoming a rounin, this samurai left mainstream Japan, pretty much dissapearing into the mountains (which the government did not really have much control over). This samurai created the Way of Nin, or Ninjitsu as most would call it.

I don't think any particular theory is more valid than the other at the moment, but this is what I think is the truth.
I hope to join this guild soon.

From what I hear from certain friends who are proficient in history and reading up on my own, the ninja "clans" are often confused with a certain type of scouts that war-lords used. The "clans" might very well be what Jass stated they were. But the idea of soldiers specifically trained to be apt at recon and spying, at least according to what I've read, was something that was used by war-lords in Japan for centuries. If what Jass is saying is historically correct, what might have happened is that the two ideas might have melded to form legends about the clan being the same scouts that were trained to sneak to enemy positions and do recon work.

I've also heard that the few (And I stress the word few) "assassination" jobs that these scouts did was not at all in the black gi with the kunai or any of that crap, and resembled more so what the CIA would do today, by dressing their soldiers up as common peasants or even care-takers in their targets home or castle, and have them attack with their common variety farming tools.

Just my two cents.