NOVEL NEXT Chapter 26: 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.
At eight years old, Jiraiya's mental fortitude was limited. It was his first time seeing the battlefield, and in truth, even many adult ninjas would be scared stiff by such carnage.
Tsunade, running beside him, nodded in agreement. "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 time, 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 Kage wearing his clan's emblem, and Danzo, with a noticeable scar etched on his chin.
This wasn't Orochimaru's first time 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 immense 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, sometimes out of genuine competition, and sometimes 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 means. 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 demeanor 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 something 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 sometimes mundane, such as guarding high priority captives.
Due to the sensitive nature of their missions, ANBU members 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 men 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?"