Forehead Protector

The forehead protector, or hitai-ate, is the bandanna that is worn by every ninja, composed of a metal plate engraved with the symbol of the ninja's Hidden Village and normally a strip of blue cloth although red, green, and black are also seen. The forehead protector is received once you graduate from the Ninja Academy, so Genin ninja and up are only seen with it.

Despite the name 'forehead protector', they can be worn in many different ways. For example, while the majority do wear theirs in the traditional manner, Sakura uses hers as a barrette, and both Temari and Hinata wear theirs around their necks. Shikamaru wears his around his arm and several ninja, including Genma and Ibiki wear theirs as bandannas fully covering the top part of their head. The bandanna part of the forehead protector, however, is clearly optional, since Kankuro's is sewn onto his hat instead. Rock Lee and Ino both wear theirs as belts, and Gaara keeps his tied onto the strap of hi's sand gourd and almost entirely out of sight.

The forehead protector is meant to symbolize pride in fighting for one's home village as well as a sense of loyalty. Ninja consider it a serious symbol and make sure to wear theirs whenever sparring with a comrade from the same village. As an example of this, after the Chunin Exam arc Naruto was angered by Sauske's refusal to wear his forehead protector during their fight.

A missing-nin does not stop wearing their forehead protector, although the Akatsuki members, and other outcast ninja, make a long horizontal scratch across the symbol to show off their rejection of their home village.