The primary function of a forehead protector isn't actually to protect the forehead!
Its main use is to distinguish the ninja's allegiance on the battlefield!
After all, even within the sa village, many ninjas may not know each other personally. And during the chaos of battle, who has ti to closely inspect every face?
When two teams of ninjas encounter each other in the wild, they'll first confirm their allegiances and exchange passcodes to ensure they're on the sa side.
At this mont, Abura Takuya heard Hiruzen call his na, instantly reassuring him that this wasn't a trick from the enemy.
After all, Takuya was just an ordinary mber of the Abura clan there's no way the enemy would know his na unless they were intimately familiar with his people.
Once the two sides confird their identities, Hiruzen and Takuya quickly exchanged information before continuing their march towards the frontline with Orochimaru and the others.
"War... it's terrifying…" Jiraiya muttered under his breath as they ran. The scene of the blood-soaked battlefield still lingered vividly in his mind.
The sheer brutality of what he had witnessed left a deep impression sothing that could shock even a seasoned fighter, let alone a child.
At eight years old, Jiraiya's ntal fortitude was limited. It was his first ti seeing the battlefield, and in truth, even many adult ninjas would be scared stiff by such carnage.
Tsunade, running beside him, nodded in agreent. "Yeah, hearing stories is one thing, but seeing it in person... it's different."
"War is always like this," Hiruzen said, trying to comfort them. "You'll get used to it."
He had already witnessed countless similar scenes, and over ti, they had dulled his emotions.
After reassuring them, Hiruzen's gaze drifted toward Orochimaru.
Outwardly, there was no noticeable change in Orochimaru's expression before or after the battle.
Was this kid just naturally born to be a ninja Hiruzen couldn't help but wonder.
---
At the Konoha border, within the military outpost
"Oh? Monkey, you've arrived?"
The Second Hokage, clad in blue armor, greeted the four as they landed. His expression was serious as he finished preparing his gear.
Several prominent Konoha shinobi stood by his side, each a pillar of the village's strength. Among them were the rotund Akimichi Tofu, Uchiha Kagami wearing his clan's emblem, and Danzo, with a noticeable scar etched on his chin.
This wasn't Orochimaru's first ti seeing these individuals, but he had never been so close to them before. Now that he had a chance to examine them up close, he could feel the imnse strength radiating from these veterans.
However, it was the Second Hokage that stood out the most. Even though he wasn't intentionally exuding his power, Orochimaru could still feel the overwhelming aura he possessed.
"Mmm," Hiruzen nodded at his teacher, the Second Hokage. "Sensei, I've brought them to the battlefield"
Before the Second Hokage could respond, Danzo interrupted with a sharp retort. "Hiruzen, what are you doing bringing children here? Do you know where you are?"
Though they were teammates, Danzo and Hiruzen were also rivals, locked in a perpetual struggle for dominance. They pushed each other, sotis out of genuine competition, and sotis out of mutual animosity.
The Second Hokage rarely interfered in their squabbles, believing that rivalry bred progress.
As for why Danzo was so opposed to the children being here well, any ninja forced to go to the battlefield at the age of six or seven could understand. It wasn't ideal by any ans. If it were up to him, no child would set foot on the battlefield. (Is this really Danzo?)
And now, here they were.
"Haha, don't worry so much, Danzo," Hiruzen responded with a hearty laugh, a stark contrast to the cold and calculating deanor of his future self. "These kids are more capable than you think. I'm sure nothing will go wrong."
Danzo scoffed, clearly unconvinced. "You'll regret it when sothing does happen."
"Enough," the Second Hokage interrupted. "What's done is done. Let's focus on the task at hand." His gaze shifted to Orochimaru, who felt the weight of the Hokage's stare. "Hiruzen, I'm leading the main force to strike at their vanguard. You take a team of ANBU and clean up the remaining stragglers."
"Yes, sir!"
---
The ANBU was a specialized unit created under the Second Hokage's reign. Their full title was the "Assassination and Tactical Special Forces," a team of elite ninja handpicked from the village's finest.
Their responsibilities ranged from safeguarding the Hokage and the village from external threats to carrying out high risk missions such as reconnaissance and assassination. The tasks were often dangerous, and sotis mundane, such as guarding high priority captives.
Due to the sensitive nature of their missions, ANBU mbers always operated wearing white animal masks to conceal their identities, with all mission details kept highly classified.
The ANBU reported directly to the hokage, and orders were issued through the squad leader, who would then lead the team to execute their objectives.
For now, Hiruzen had been temporarily entrusted with command over one such five-man ANBU squad.
The team, all clad in dark uniforms and animal masks, consisted of four n and one woman. Including Hiruzen and Orochimaru, the group now totaled nine.
Their mission was to locate and eliminate Kumo ninjas, who, like themselves, were operating in small tactical squads.
"Hiruzen-sama," one of the masked ANBU spoke up hesitantly, "are you sure bringing these children along is wise decision?"
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