List of Ninja Tools

The ninja in Naruto are often seen using various tools or weapons to help them in battle. The following is a list of the known weapons.

Animals

 * Users: Many characters.
 * Description: During the Chunin exam, it was confirmed that animals can be considered a ninja tool. This was brought into question immediately prior to Naruto's fight with Kiba Inuzuka.

A ninja's jutsu may often involve use of various animals; most notably among the Leaf ninja are the Aburame clan, who form a symbiotic relationship with a certain type of insect, and the Inuzuka clan, which favors the use of canines in battle. In this first style of animal usage, the relationship between ninja and animal extends beyond battle, as they will be in each others company for most of their lives. The ninja will develop a unique style to maximize coordination between himself and his animal partner(s).

Another form of animal usage, and far more common, comes from the Summoning Technique. An example of a Summoning Technique is that of Kakashi that calls eight nindogs including Pakkun. This method is a time/space jutsu, which calls an animal to the user during battle after drawing blood and using sufficient chakra.

Blood Clotting Pellets

 * Users: Kabuto Yakushi, probably most experienced Medical Ninja

Medical Ninja have access to a different variety of Soldier Pill that accelerates coagulation appropriately called Blood Clotting Pills or Plasma Pills.

Chakra Knife

 * Users: Asuma Sarutobi, Shikamaru Nara, Naruto Uzumaki, Sora
 * Description: The chakra knife is made of a special metal that draws the user's elemental chakra out to enhance the blade. This worked particularly well for Asuma, since his Wind element made its cutting power considerable higher. Shikamaru was also able to use the knife as a point from which he could manipulate shadows.

Demon Wind Shuriken

 * Users: Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki, Zabuza Momochi
 * Description: The is roughly the same size as the large shuriken, but has a unique shape. The four blades that make up the Windmill Shuriken are curved along their inside edge, presumably to allow for better slicing power and faster flight than a straight-edge shuriken. It is so large that the weapon is designed to fold so that it would fit inside a large backpack, when folded it can also be used as a close range fighting tool. Windmill shurikens are probably more dangerous than large shuriken, but it takes more time to prepare such a weapon for use.

Explosive Tag

 * Users: Most ninja.
 * Description: Also known as "shiki" tags or paper bombs, explosive tags are not quite as common as standard throwing tools, but still see quite a bit of use. First introduced during the Chunin exam arc, when Oboro threw one attached to a kunai at Sasuke, they became almost commonplace after that. Explosive tags can be attached to almost anything via wire or adhesives (as one note was stuck to a squirrel's back), and detonate after a predetermined amount of time. They can be used in distractions, or even in deadly blows.

Flash Bombs

 * Users: Some ninja
 * Description: Flash bombs are small round spheres that are attached to a kunai knife, similarly to an explosive tag. Once thrown, flash bombs explode on impact, creating blinding flashes, used as a diversion. Shikamaru Nara uses these against Tayuya; using them to create shadows so he can use his Shadow Imitation Technique on Tayuya's Doki.

Giant Mace

 * User: Kotetsu Hagane
 * Descripon: Kotetsu carries this weapon in a scroll to save space. It has a massive striking area, with a relatively short handle, but also a chain running from behind the head to the end of the handle which Kotetsu can use to hold on to.

During the first battle with Hidan and Kakuzu, at the near end, Kotetsu summoned a large mace and with the help of Izumo, Kotetsu tried to strike Kakuzu while he was distracted. He was only to fail at Kakuzu's stretching arms. Fortunately for the team, reinforcements arrived, but Asuma wasn't stopped from dying.

Imperial Garian Sword
Also, each of the swords blade has the ability to react to the carrier's charkra, amplify it and change it's form to that of a dragon.
 * User: Ryugan (Anime only)
 * Description: The sword has a metal wire passing through the blade. This wire controls it's movements as the blade can expand and be shot after the targeted enemy.

Katana

 * Users: Sasuke Uchiha, Zabuza Momochi, Kisame Hoshigaki, Raiga Kurosuki, Hanzaki Fuma, Suigetsu Hozuki, Hayate Gekko, Orochimaru, most Konoha ANBU members, and Aoi Rokusho.
 * Description: "Katana" is the general description of any bladed weapon longer than a dagger. They vary in size, shape, and even material. Katana, when used, often become the central focus of the ninja's jutsus, with the ninja developing techniques to maximize his sword's efficiency.
 * Traditional use: In tradition, a katana is a single-edged sword designed for open-field combat. The blunt end of the katana could be, technically, used as a bludgeon tool. The forging of a katana can take over half a day, and is still considered an art in today's society. Katanas are not made for precise cutting-related attacks, since it could damage the blade. Wakizashi, a name given to swords with a blade length in-between that of a katana and a dagger, complements the use of a katana. The wakizashi is used where the katana could not, including executions and seppuku, ritual suicide, as such precise actions can dull or snap the katana's blade.

Significant Katanas

 * Decapitating Carving Knife: Zabuza Momochi's giant sword, specially designed for decapitation, later claimed by Suigetsu Hozuki, currently left in the Valley of Clouds and Lightning.
 * Samehada: Kisame Hoshigaki's giant rough scaled sword, shaves rather than cut, can absorb chakra, spikes prevent anyone other than its master to wield it.
 * Kusanagi Sword:
 * Orochimaru's version: the sword of Japanese legend, extendable and capable of slicing through virtually anything, current status unknown.
 * Sasuke Uchiha's version: a simple chokuto, capable of conducting electricity for increasing cutting power and range.
 * Totsuka Sword: Itachi Uchiha's spiritual sword, capable of sealing victims in an eternal genjutsu, held by Susanoo, the Kusanagi's perfect counter, current status unknown.

Anime Only Swords

 * Sword of the Thunder God: Tobirama Senju's legendary sword, blade is made of pure lightning and is retractable, later stolen by Aoi Rokusho, destroyed by Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha.
 * Lightning Fangs: Raiga Kurosuki's twin swords, can manipulate lightning and join into one double-bladed sword, currently under a river.
 * Zanbatō: Hanzaki Fuma's simple giant sword, no apparent special properties.

Kunai

 * Users: Most ninja
 * Description: Kunai (クナイ) knives are weapons useful for melee or ranged combat. They mainly consist of a short, diamond-shaped blade, with a handle and a ring on the end. The ring is useful for grabbing the kunai, or attaching string to it. There are also different shapes of kunai, like Minato Namikaze's three-bladed kunai.
 * Traditional use: Kunai are often described as "leaf-shaped" tools. They are often wrought of iron, its only sharp section being the tip. A kunai is used for smashing and other chores that would destroy a steel-forged tool. Because of its gardening use, kunai can be used openly for gardening by a ninja without raising suspicion. Kunai are not made to be thrown, although they can inflict serious damage and are capable of being thrown.

Large Shuriken

 * Users: Mizuki, Iruka, Naruto, Sasuke, Shin
 * Description: They are basically giant shuriken about the length of a persons arm.

Makibishi

 * Users: Kakashi Hatake, Sasame Fuma, Ino Yamanaka (OVA 4 only)
 * Description:, or caltrops, as they are also known, are small spiky objects that are used to hurt the feet of the enemy. Also known as "throwing nails", they can cover one's retreat, or be used to force an opponent into a certain tactical location. Their four-pronged design guaranteed that one sharp end would always be pointing at the sky, where a foot can step upon.
 * Traditional Use: Its use in tradition is similar, as most people of feudal Japan wore straw shoes rather than boots, which provide little protection against the makibishi. Makibishi could be poisoned, which may result in fatal injuries. Myth says that there were also explosive makibishi, makubishirai, where a makibishi would detonate when stepped upon.

Metal Threads

 * Users: Tenten, Sasuke, and some others
 * Description: The metal threads are used to trap enemies. If enemies get tangled in the threads tightly, they can get sliced up. Probably what's a lot more effective is when Sasuke Uchiha wrapped up Orochimaru, he performed the Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique, causing the threads to light up on fire, burning Orochimaru.

Military Rations Pellets

 * Users: Kiba Inuzuka, Choji Akimichi, Kabuto Yakushi, Sakura Haruno, some others.
 * Description: Military rations pellets were originally distributed to soldiers during the Great Ninja Wars. Soldier pills are very useful as they carried enough nutrients to carry the user for three days. They also boost the user's chakra, distributing it evenly to every part of the body, and in essence making it function like an animal's.

Puppets

 * Users: Kankuro, Chiyo, Sasori, Monzaemon Chikamatsu.
 * Description: All puppets are different. However, they all work on the same fundamental principle. The puppeteer is a master of Puppet Technique, and uses threads of chakra to manipulate the puppet's movements. A trend among puppeteers is to have hidden traps among their puppets, and to use poisons, smoke bombs, and other devices to incapacitate their enemy. Often, the controller of the puppet is a weak close-range fighter. The use of puppet-related jutsu is most often associated with the Hidden Sand.

Radio

 * Users: Several ninja
 * Description: Used to communicate with other ninjas over a short distance. Usually used on missions with more then one person.

Scrolls

 * Users: Tenten, Kakashi, Shikamaru and many other ninja
 * Description: Scrolls come in many varieties of uses. Normally, they are used as letters or messages to be sent out, but some scrolls are also suitable for combat. For example, summoning scrolls are activated by the user's blood and allow them to summon objects such as how Tenten uses her scrolls to summon weapons. A summoning contract with a line of creatures is also signed by blood on a scroll.

Senbon

 * Users: Haku, Kin Tsuchi, Sasuke Uchiha, Amegakure ninja, Genma Shiranui, Aoi Rokusho, Sakura Haruno, Shizune
 * Description: are acupuncture needles, made of either wood or metal. Haku uses them as both throwing and melee weapons. Kin uses them in conjunction with bells and strings to activate a genjutsu. They strike a very precise target, but are often non-fatal. Senbon is most used by ninjas with medical knowledge.
 * Traditional use: Senbon are used in acupuncture - a Chinese medical procedure. The thought behind acupuncture is that pressing particular points on the body, pressure points, would adjust the inner elements of the body (not so different compared to the chakra circulatory and the Gentle Fist style), thus relieving ailments.

Shuriken

 * Users: Most Ninja
 * Description: The normal (also known, in colloquial speech, as "ninja stars") are sharpened, four-pronged metal stars, useful for throwing. Though small, they can be used to distract, or, if accurate enough, could be deadly. They have an open circle in the center, used for grabbing with a finger, to avoid cutting oneself, or thread. The circle is also a benefit in aerodynamics, for more accurate trajectories.
 * Traditional Use: The common misconception behind shuriken is that they were meant for assassination and killing; they are not, in tradition. They are often used by ninja as a way to distract opponents to gain the upper hand. Shuriken are easy to make and could be made out of the most common materials, including old coins, etc... The designs of a shuriken can vary, and are often unique to different ninja clans. Furthermore, the term "shuriken" also applies to a type of throwing weapon that did not have a star-shape. They were instead thick nail-like weapons, which were more deadly than the stars.

Smoke bombs

 * Users: Several ninjas
 * Description: The simple smoke bombs puff out smoke when detonated, only to disrupt enemies. Some smokebombs contain poison, making it deadlier than regular bombs.

Tanto

 * Users: Sakumo Hatake, Kakashi Hatake, The Foundation, Shikamaru Nara
 * Description: Simply a small Katana. The type the foundation uses are double-edged and has no tip. It is usually carried on the back of the users shoulder.

Three Colored Pills

 * Users: Akimichi Clan

Tonfa

 * Users: Tenten, Rock Lee
 * Description: Tonfa are hard wooden weapons used for close range combat. They are typically around 3 feet in length and have a short handle to grasp in palms.

Triple-Bladed Scythe

 * Users: Hidan
 * Description: The scythe is not designed to inflict great damage on the enemy. Rather, it has had its range augmented to hit the enemy to bring about blood.

Umbrella

 * Users: Amegakure ninja
 * Description: Umbrellas are worn on the backs of the Rain shinobi for fast access. During the midst of battle, they can be hurled into the air where they spin at a rapid speed releasing a mass amount of Senbon to rain upon the enemy.