| The Naruto headband, or forehead protector as it's | | | | wears it as a belt and Sakura wears it, quite literally, as |
| more properly called, has many different functions. | | | | a headband. The male population is half and half. You |
| Though it is supposed to be used to protect the | | | | almost never see Naruto without his forehead |
| forehead during battle, the prime focus of the | | | | protector. He wears it with pride and honor. While |
| protector seems to be to show allegiance or past | | | | other characters, such as Shikimaru and Rock Lee, |
| allegiance to certain villages in the Naruto anime. Many | | | | don't see it as necessary to wear it the way it was |
| people have been curious about whether wearing the | | | | intended. This isn't met with much opposition from the |
| forehead protector on a part of the body has any | | | | village. As long as the protector is displayed |
| significant meaning. The answer is no. | | | | somewhere on the body, it seems to be alright. |
| The Naruto headband consists of a cloth band that | | | | The most important aspect of the Naruto headband is |
| wraps all the way around the head and ties in the | | | | the fact that it shows allegiance for or against a village. |
| back. To the front of the headband is a forehead | | | | The metal plate on each forehead protector is |
| length metal plate that is affixed to the cloth and is | | | | inscribed with the symbol of a village. Just looking at |
| designed to protect the forehead from damage. It is | | | | the protector can help you distinguish where the ninja |
| specifically designed to deflect sharp projectiles or | | | | wearing it comes from and whether they are a friend |
| other objects. | | | | or foe. Rogue ninjas wear the forehead protector of |
| While a few characters of the anime series wear the | | | | the village they came from with a line scratched |
| Naruto headband as it was intended, there are some | | | | through the symbol. This signifies their origin, and that |
| that do not. Female characters typically where the | | | | they are now an enemy of the village. |
| protector as more of an accessory. For example, Ino | | | | |