ehem, WHY DID HE GET SMALLER? his eyes got bigger and he looks like he got shorter -.- and...

The mangaka probably waited a LONG time with making this, so it's to be expected that the characters change a little because the author's views also change.

I liked Aki as a ninja too, but I think the current story arc has him struggling with issues such as whom to trust and who he wants to be--and so he appears more child-like and naive because his appearance reflects his inner-state.

Doh--wrong manga. Why isn't there a delete button under this?

So sorry...