Slow and steady footsteps resounded on the pavement as the small red-haired child ascended along the path leading up to the Hokage Rock. She was not entirely oblivious to the meaning of this location: A monument that had the faces of the Hokage engraved into the mountain. It was a testament to the power and influence the leaders of Konohagakure possessed, and it often also was something of a tourist spot. It seemed the villagers were quite fond, proud even of this place, and yet Akari had to admit she struggled to comprehend the importance of the monument. Of course, she knew the current Hokage, Uchiha Takeshi, he was after al her uncle and from what she had been told in the past he was a powerful and wise individual. It made sense, that he was such a person, for she doubted her savior would have aided him as one of his Sennin if not for the fact he was a man worthy of her help.
It meant that her 'mother' trusted her uncle, believed he was a suitable leader for the village. At least that was how Akari envisioned it. But why did the village see the need into constructing such a fancy monument? It left the child in a state of curiosity as she pondered quietly while ascending the stairs. It was every now and then that she turned around to look at Asuka, a sheepish smile on her lips as they almost neared their destination. It was a simple picnic, after all the Hokage Rock offered a fantastic view over the village and it was a place frequently visited by tourists for the same reason.
Already the end of their ascend was in sight, the final few stairs leading up to the peak of the Hokage Rock, and once her feet settled on the pavement on top of the rock Akari turned around and exclaimed proudly. "I made it all the way to the top~ Without needing to be carried or having to hold Mama's hand~"
It seemed the child was proud of this seemingly silly display of self-reliance, but in the end, for Akari it was quite a great feat. Having witnessed the murder of her parents in such a brutal fashion, the emotional and psychological damage that it had inflicted upon her being had been immense, and Asuka knew that for sure. After all, even at the age of ten Akari was still fairly meek and timed around strangers, and in crowds would often feel the urge to hold the woman's hand to find a certain sense of confidence and safety in her presence.
And yet there was no denying that she had been trying her utmost to grow, to overcome the phantoms of the past. Once Asuka would have reached the peak of the Hokage Rock the child would have happily attempted to leap at her, akin to a koala bear attempting to hug her before giving her yet another of those innocent smiles of her upon which she would finally voice the thoughts that had been drifting in her mind.
"Mama~ Why did you decide to become a Sennin of the village?"
It was a question that had lingered in her mind for quite a while, after all people often were able to fight at their strongest when they had a reason to fight, something that motivated and encouraged them to go beyond their limits. And in a way Akari was searching for that, a reason for wanting to become strong, for wanting to become a kunoichi. Certainly, her desire for becoming a kunoichi to prevent others to lose their families like she did, had been a humble and praise-worthy desire, but it was evident that one needed something more... personal, a dream to pursue of their own... one could even go as far as calling it an ambition.
It meant that her 'mother' trusted her uncle, believed he was a suitable leader for the village. At least that was how Akari envisioned it. But why did the village see the need into constructing such a fancy monument? It left the child in a state of curiosity as she pondered quietly while ascending the stairs. It was every now and then that she turned around to look at Asuka, a sheepish smile on her lips as they almost neared their destination. It was a simple picnic, after all the Hokage Rock offered a fantastic view over the village and it was a place frequently visited by tourists for the same reason.
Already the end of their ascend was in sight, the final few stairs leading up to the peak of the Hokage Rock, and once her feet settled on the pavement on top of the rock Akari turned around and exclaimed proudly. "I made it all the way to the top~ Without needing to be carried or having to hold Mama's hand~"
It seemed the child was proud of this seemingly silly display of self-reliance, but in the end, for Akari it was quite a great feat. Having witnessed the murder of her parents in such a brutal fashion, the emotional and psychological damage that it had inflicted upon her being had been immense, and Asuka knew that for sure. After all, even at the age of ten Akari was still fairly meek and timed around strangers, and in crowds would often feel the urge to hold the woman's hand to find a certain sense of confidence and safety in her presence.
And yet there was no denying that she had been trying her utmost to grow, to overcome the phantoms of the past. Once Asuka would have reached the peak of the Hokage Rock the child would have happily attempted to leap at her, akin to a koala bear attempting to hug her before giving her yet another of those innocent smiles of her upon which she would finally voice the thoughts that had been drifting in her mind.
"Mama~ Why did you decide to become a Sennin of the village?"
It was a question that had lingered in her mind for quite a while, after all people often were able to fight at their strongest when they had a reason to fight, something that motivated and encouraged them to go beyond their limits. And in a way Akari was searching for that, a reason for wanting to become strong, for wanting to become a kunoichi. Certainly, her desire for becoming a kunoichi to prevent others to lose their families like she did, had been a humble and praise-worthy desire, but it was evident that one needed something more... personal, a dream to pursue of their own... one could even go as far as calling it an ambition.