Learning from Waterfowl
水鳥之教
Mizudori no Oshie
Like a cat disturbing a bird from its serene seat on a branch, the ninja can disturb the natural wildlife around them, signaling to the enemy that danger is nearby. Natori dedicates this chapter as a warning to apprentice shinobi that even the smallest of creatures can give away your position and, in turn, that you too can identify an enemy in this fashion. Castle moats and the use of water in defensive systems can be seen in many cultures from around the world. Like animals, bodies of water are enemies to the ninja and need to be treated with care; a ripple out of place in the view of an alert guard could spell the end for a shinobi soldier.
Here are some hints about what are deemed as positive places for shinobi to hide, no matter which side of the war that they are on. Also, take into account the fact that no matter how busy your mind is beneath the surface, you must always appear graceful and calm to all, just as waterfowl do on a calm lake. There are those who uphold the true way of the shinobi, and they should stay on the path of perseverance, which makes them righteous, even though others around them disrespect the ways of the shinobi, thus can they not be described as saints or even as enlightened?
The waters in Jiang Nan are even bluer than that of heaven Where I found a gull, appearing to be as quiet as me
—From the Enga* collection of poetry
by Shangu Daoren (1045–1105)
There are likely to be shinobi in places such as: lurking in the vicinity of a castle, or by the wall of a quay, or by a stone wall or in a rough spot. You should see if there are any waterfowl or animals to be found around that area. Be aware that they may take flight if they are startled by any noise you may make.
Like a wisp of smoke in the sky, if a fushikamari 伏陰り(one who lies down) scout is in hiding, birds will often avoid him, take flight and blanket the sky covering the starlight above just to shun him. A shinobi must always be careful about these things. It is for you to investigate a way to hide properly, using your own best judgment.
To cross the water with ease, make a square with four bamboo sticks, with each corner lashed together, and then fasten a calabash on each corner as buoyancy. Furthermore, in some cases, a tub can be used successfully as a flotation device to get across water in times of need.
When you hide within the water, allow only your face to surface and do this only within the shadows of the trees, while drawing reeds around you and your face. Furthermore, it is said, those who are good at diving carry a bamboo cylinder or the scabbard of a sword with a hole in the end, this is so that you can breathe through it from time to time while diving, taking breaths periodically as you come close to the surface. To cross over the moat surrounding a castle, you should utilize the corners and use them accordingly. When you climb up a stone wall, you should jab spikes into the masonry to create footholds and handholds, use such things as Kogai hairpins in sequence with a Kaginawa grappling iron, so that you can get hold of them both to aid your climb.
* Presumably, this is the title of the collection of his poetry.