Chapter 26:
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 same village, many ninjas may not know each other personally. And during the chaos of battle, who has time 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 same side.
At this moment, Aburame Takuya heard Hiruzen call his name, instantly reassuring him that this wasn't a trick from the enemy.
After all, Takuya was just an ordinary member of the Aburame clan there's no way the enemy would know his name unless they were intimately familiar with his people.
Once the two sides confirmed 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 something that could shock even a seasoned fighter, let alone a child.