Sakura Uchiha wears hers as a hair-band.The members of the Alliance wear this in place of their original forehead protector.ĭespite being called a 'forehead protector', it is not necessary for a ninja to wear it on their forehead or even on their head at all. Engraved with the kanji for shinobi (忍), it symbolises that, whereas once each ninja fought for their villages separately, they now stand united under one banner for the same cause. In preparation for the Fourth Shinobi World War, Mifune designs a new forehead protector to be worn by members of the Allied Shinobi Forces. Villagers of Amegakure aligned with Pain bear the same scratches across their forehead protectors, but remain loyal to the village it symbolises their victory during the civil war against Hanzō. Akatsuki members who retain their forehead protectors carve a long, horizontal scratch across the symbol, to show they have rescinded their allegiances and rejected their villages. Some missing-nin, such as Zabuza Momochi, continue wearing their forehead protector even after they've left their village. Similarly, to have one's protector removed is to denote one's unworthiness to the name 'ninja', as Naruto did to Boruto for cheating during the Chūnin Exams. Although not wearing a forehead protector is frequently viewed as disrespectful to one's village and peers, a ninja who does not wear one may still be loyal to their village.

Ninja consider it an honourable, important part of their tradition, and make a point of wearing it at all times, especially when sparring with a comrade from the same village. Forehead protectors are usually worn as a sign of pride and fealty for one's village.

Black naruto forehead protector