Quote (asskiller @ Sep 22 2010 07:07pm)
Thats is a great answer thanks
Sorry it was incomplete; I had to pee really badly but wanted to submit what I had typed.
The jet-black coloring of the ninja outfit was really because of kabuki (japanese theater) where prop-changers would wear that and sit in the dark spots of the stage so they weren't seen and were able to change sceneries/etc. Ninja wore tabi (split-toed socks which are actually very good for you); their swords were traditionally wakizashi-length since most combat was done in close quarters (if far away they would use throwing knives or shuriken or that hook thing that I can't remember the name of) so their swords were between the length of a full sword and a dagger. Ninja clothing was often pattered more serpentlike kinda like jeans to help refract light.