What exactly was a Ninja/Shinobi, historically speaking?

I believe that ninjas are a social construct. The 15th century figures we call ninjas relied much on mythology and conspiracy theories to exaggerate their power. They’re probably behind a lot of Tengu legends too.

Proper Iga and Kouga ninjas were just peasants, but if we wanted to expand this role to all feudal black ops, then plenty of Samurais were ninjas too or allied to ninjas or a front for ninjas.

Obviously the ninja career path existed for thousand of years prior to that. China had the same thing for eons, even if we never call them something so specific and archetypal as ninjas. Again, ninja is part myth. They actively relied on the myth making and manipulating popular perception to aid their operations. Ninjas knew how to psy op.

Anyway, this whole ninja thing came up because some folks are mightily upset that our homie Yasuke is starring in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

They’ve been against Yasuke (a real life historical samurai) in media from day one. Back when anime featuring Yasuke came out, they’ve been claiming there were no black people in Japan, or whatever. And now they are complaining that Yasuke was “merely a retainer” and “not a real samurai”. A Samurai is a retainer of a Daimyo (feudal lord), dipshits. Smh.

Meanwhile the Japanese are completely fine with Yasuke being the protagonist of the next AC game. Thrilled even.