Historical ninjas, or shinobi, were covert agents in feudal Japan, primarily active from the 15th to the 17th centuries. They were skilled in espionage, sabotage, guerrilla warfare, and assassination. Unlike the romanticized versions seen in popular culture, real ninjas often worked for samurai or feudal lords, gathering intelligence and carrying out secret missions. Ninjas utilized various techniques and tools, including ninjutsu, a martial art focused on stealth and deception. They were trained in disguise, escape tactics, and the use of weapons like shuriken and smoke bombs. Their legacy continues to influence modern media, but the historical reality of ninjas was much more pragmatic and strategic.