Her despondent outlook does not improve by late afternoon.
Under the surface of composure is the allusion of dejection and mistrust. Her mind has conveniently disengaged itself from the barbarous surrounding that is reality.
As she walks purposelessly towards a small village on the outskirts of Cascades Town, there is an obvious difference in the structural and environmental atmosphere between the north and south ends of the village.
Amidst the upper, wealthier north side, the area is surrounded by a picturesque nature of greenery, waterfalls and nature.
But the old, tattered and dirty buildings of the south is a post-war zone.
When Rin approaches the south, a stranger catches her attention. A little girl, no older than three, has attached herself to her leg. The girl is dressed in rags, and her hair is dirty and matted.
"Mama," she says sweetly.
Rin's expression softens. She crouches down to the little girl's level.
"I'm sorry I'm not your mother, you look lost," she says kindly.
Instantly, the girl's face darkens in fright.
"Where's mama then?" she asks warily.
"I don't know, I can help you find her."
The little girl shakes her head stubbornly.
"But you're mama, I can tell."
Rin stares at her in surprise.
"What is your name?," Rin asks.
"Kari," she mumbles.
Rin smiles.
"Kari, let's go and find your family, okay?"
They approach a row of dilapidated buildings where a large portion of the area is a set up base for homeless citizens. Countless bodies are strewn across the walkways and she is uncertain as to whether they are dead or alive.
There is the smell of decaying litter, dead rats and sewage that saturates the air. The stench is so incredibly pungent, it lingers intensely in her nose and refuses to unlatch itself despite moving towards untainted air.
There is rubble, sand, overgrown weeds and rubbish everywhere.
A pond sits ever so serenely amongst the mass of litter, and when Rin draws nearer, the stink from it hits her like a cannon ball. She turns from the blackened-green like water and holds her breath until they are a fair distance away.
Kari now leads, deeper and deeper into the depths of physical poverty.
Ahead, they approach an oak tree, where an elderly woman is lying almost lifeless against its shade.
An enormous dirty ragged shawl is wrapped around her fragile body, save for her face and hands. Her grey hair is equally matted as Kari's, and the thickened skin of old age has sagged depressingly against the degrading surface of her body. She is so thin, she could be mistaken for a decaying corpse.
"Grandma sick," Kari says.
Her distressed tone is layered with uncertainty and confusion.
"It's okay, I can help her," Rin assures.
When she determines the source of infection, it does not take her long to cure the ailment. Yet the strenuous battle against the very determined culprit has diminished her chakra to a very low level.
"Grandma, are you well?" Kari asks quietly.
"Ah, always ready to fight back," the woman replies faintly.
"I take it that you're recovering already," Rin says kindly.
The woman looks to her with passive tenderness.
"Luck is on my side this time, thank you," she says softly, "I hope I'll be around a little longer so that she is safe."
She glances waveringly at Kari.
"Her parents-" Rin starts
"Dead," the woman interrupts bluntly, "Gone."
"I'm sorry."
They fall into brief silence.
"What happened here?"
The woman is stoic for several seconds, as if she is extracting unpleasant memories.
"This place flourished about twenty years ago, but the Third War wiped out our entire economy."
The woman pauses in an attempt to breathe. It looks difficult, but she eventually manages.
"But disputes over land and resources are still happening. We are in a bad location for ninjas of the Fire and Earth countries. A battleground perhaps. Kari and her parents were caught in the midst of a recent battle. Only she made it out alive."
The woman hesitates again, and this time, she gazes wistfully at Rin.
"You look so much like my daughter," she says, "Kari has yet to come to terms with the loss of her family. I'm the only one left here, but we do have a supportive community."
She points to the strewn of bodies scattered around.
"They are sleeping," the woman continues at the startled look on Rin's face, "But I doubt some would last for very long. A lot of us have been pushed into this end of the town as a way to lend space for passing ninjas."
"I cannot believe…" Rin utters.
There is a deep feeling of sorrow that penetrates her core.
She cannot change the way people suffer in this contemptible world. She may be able to relieve their discomfort, but she knows she will not be around when another disease strikes.
"Why is the notion of world peace such a thing where everyone is always hoping for, yet the relentless wars are always so clearly evident? Action speaks louder than words."
His words reverberate across her mind and pulsates against the beats of her heart.
Then, she is weeping. Not for him, but for the world.
Tobi, I really don't understand this world but I want to make it a better place for everyone. I want to stop the endless cycle of war that is fuelling so much suffering…what do I do?
"One more day with Kari is already a miracle," the woman says.
Surprisingly, it is her soft smile and the jovial cries of a family reunion that will irrevocably etch itself into her heart.
Because for these two, it is the only happiness they will ever have.