Ninja Invisiblity
by G.T. Karber of www.karber.net

Sight-

Ah, sight, the strongest sense of the human. You can fool this sense with disguises,
camouflage, and the such. It is also useful for the Ninja to throw objects that will
crackle when burned (such as wet leaves) into a fire. The foolish Samurai will stare
into the blaze and temporarily destroy his night vision.

Sound-

Move during conversation, machinery, or when the wind blows. If there is a pond or
lake nearby and the foolish Samurai are following you, throw a rock in. They will
think it is you and search the water while you make your escape.

Ko Ashi (Small Step)

The Ninja will use this to move through shallow water or dry leaves. The goal is to get
the foot beneath the surface as silent as possible. Maintain a low hip position and place
your body weight on the front foot, pull your rear foot up, and slowly more it over to the
spot where it will touch down. Then point your toe downward and dig straight in, passing
through the surface slowly. After the heel has gone through the surface, your foot should
level out so the sole of the foot may come to rest on the ground beneath the water or leaves.
Then shift the weight onto this new leading foot, and pull the trailing foot out and move
forward into the next step. This will make the Ninja appear as a crain.

Yoko Aruki (Sideways Walking)

If you would like to move in the shadow of a building, or through a tight passageway.
You must line the hips up (instead of facing in) the direction of travel, and the
stepping motion is lateral. The movement begins by leading with the hips to one side
or the other, depending on whether one is advancing or retreating (Remember, the Ninja
that runs away, lives to fight another day. Unless he is killed by fellow Ninja).
As the weight shifts to the leading leg, the knees are bent deeply and the rear
leg crosses over in front. The body weight then shifts to the new leading foot,
as the new rear leg is pulled from behind and repositioned in the lead. The sideways
walking motion is done in a smooth and level flowing action, and gives the appearance
of a sand crab scurrying sideways.

Nuki Ashi (Sweeping Step)

With this technique you can cross straw matting or wooden planks without being detected by shifting your body weight.
From a low crouching position, the balance and then the body weight are slowly shifted to the forward leg until it
supports the entire body. the rear leg is then pulled forward and in toward the supporting leg. The ankles barely
brush each other as the moving leg goes forward and out with the toes pointed slightly inward. With the weight on
the stationary leg, the outside edge of the moving foot can be used as a feeler to probe probe lightly for any
obstacles that might be in the way. The foot is then eased to the floor, outer edge first. The weight is gently
shifted to this foot, and can be withdrawn quickly if any creaking of the floor is noticed. The groping foot
then becomes the new support foot as the ninja continues forward. With his hands moving lightly like tentacles,
the ninja takes on the appearance of an octopus.

Smell-

Because the sense of smell is so weak in humans, they rely on other animals to help them.
This means you must stay downwind.