A/N: Humiya is back! I wanted to write a fluffy chapter before everything goes downhill. I have so much in store for you.

Happy Reading! Owo

To Change Fate

Chapter 11: Years Passed But Mission Remains

If Humiya didn't have a life mission from the goddess, Naka, to find her eyes, she would have happily lived in Sanchō's Curry Shop for the rest of her days. Life there was as blissfully uneventful as life in the ninja world could get. The perfect place to grow up happy and healthy.

Humiya sat on the back porch peeling potatoes, a daily chore that she dreaded. She had to be nimble with her tiny hands when peeling potatoes with a large sharp knife. It was a lot of work to peel a whole crate of them before breakfast, but it was the least that she could do for Sanchō caring for Sasuke and her so dearly.

Humiya stared at the half peeled potato, deep in thought. Months turned to years and Humiya went from a sickly toddler to a healthy nine year old girl, but she could not enjoy her childhood happily. She had a mission to complete and a clan to save. Humiya waited for Itachi. She waited and prayed to Naka to help him find them. But he never did. By the second year living there, Humiya realized that he never would. It was more likely that he and their parents believed that they were dead. She could just wait out the massacre, but that did not sit right with her. She had to get back to Konoha by herself before the Massacre happened. That thought kept Humiya awake many nights.

"Hurry, Humiya!" Sasuke cried, ripping Humiya from her thoughts. "Come on! Let's play together! Don't you want to play hide and seek before breakfast?"

"Of course I do," She grumbled as she finished peeling the potato. "But these potatoes are bigger than usual,"

Sasuke looked up at her with big puppy dog eyes and pouted. It was all thanks to Sanchō's care that he was able to grow up into a healthy six year old boy. After Humiya begged Grandma Sanchō to adopt Sasuke from the nasty matron and explained that he was her lost younger brother. Sanchō adopted him without hesitation. He was so sickly from drifting down the river after the Nine Tails Attack and too young to eat the curry of life. Humiya remembered holding him close that night near the kitchen fireplace, begging for him to survive. Miraculously, he did.

"Did you finish your chores, Sasuke?" Sanchō asked, stirring the curry in the large pot in the kitchen, preparing to open the shop.

"Of course I did," Sasuke cheered, counting down the things he did on his fingers, "I made my bed, brushed my teeth—"

"Did you sweep the front porch?"

"Hey, it's Karashi's turn to do that,"

"H-He's right, Grandma. I-I finished," Karashi stuttered as he entered the kitchen.

"Whose turn is it to peel the carrots, then?" Sanchō asked with a lifted brow.

"Oh," Sasuke sighed, looking at the crate of unpeeled carrots. "I'm on it,"

Sasuke quickly got the crate and put it right next to Humiya with the bucket where the peelings go between them. Hardly anything is thrown away around here. The peels would be used to make a stock for whatever else they cooked that day and the curry. Humiya insisted that they should serve things other than curry. Sanchō's response was different dishes that had curry in it like curry filled bread and dumplings using the curry as filling. That was the only downside of living here. Curry for every meal.

"P-please, l-let me help," Karashi said shyly, situating himself between Humiya and Sasuke with a knife.

He took a carrot from Sasuke's crate before peeling it.

"Watch your fingers, Sasuke. Do it just like this,"

"I know. I know! See?" Sasuke muttered, holding out his perfectly peeled carrot. "Humiya is the one who needs help. Look at those extra big potatoes,"

"That's right. Help me, Karashi!" Humiya complained.

Karashi laughed as he took a potato and peeled it in only a few seconds. Humiya and Sasuke stared at his handiwork in amazement. Karashi's wood carving skills were really paying off in their chores. He created all sorts of wooden figurines. He even carved Sasuke a wooden dinosaur for his birthday. Thanks to Karashi, Humiya and Sasuke were able to complete their chores before breakfast. They put the peeled vegetables next to the counter. Sasuke ran outside jumping for joy.

"Yay! Hide and seek time! You're it, Karashi."

Before Sasuke could run into the woods. They heard Sanchō's call them all in for breakfast.

"Aww," Sasuke whined as he followed everyone inside.

Sanchō set the table on one closest to the kitchen. It was curry again with rice and miso soup. The plate with tomato slices on the side instead of miso was for Sasuke. It was a hearty breakfast for her growing grandchildren.

"Thanks for the food," They said in unison when they sat down and took a bite of their curry.

It was flavorful and delicious as usual. The savoriness of the curry and the umami of the miso was a perfect combination.

"Mm!" Sasuke hummed. "Thanks for the tomato! It's perfect,"

Despite having curry every day, it was Sasuke's favorite dish. Especially with the tomato slices. Humiya just ate it quietly. It was good, but too much of a good thing made it bland.

"Grandma?" Sasuke asked with big puppy dog eyes. "Can Humiya and Karashi play hide and seek with me after breakfast? I know that they usually help open shop, but there is no one here at the door and it will only be for a little while."

Sanchō rubbed her chin in contemplation.

"W-we could go foraging w-while we are out," Karashi interjected.

Humiya nodded with him.

"I know that we are low on quite a few herbs and the crab traps should be full by now,"

"Please! Pretty please?" Sasuke begged.

Sanchō chuckled.

"Alright. Just for today,"

"Yay!" Sasuke cheered before running out the door. "Humiya's it,"

"Hey, we have to clean up first!" Humiya called.

But Sasuke had already disappeared into the woods.

"It's fine. I will handle it. You two have fun as well. Just help with this afternoon rush, okay?"

"Okay!"

"K-kay"

Humiya already sensed where Sasuke was hiding, but she was at a loss with how to get to him. He was on top of a tree way off the trail. It was going to take hours to climb that tree and how was she going to get down after?

"Must be because of his Uchiha genes," Humiya whispered to herself, walking with Karashi down the well tread forest trail.

The leaves from the trees blocked the sun, only small rays broke through. A small breeze flew past, causing a few leaves to fall. Humiya jumped and caught one before placing it on her forehead, using her chakra to make it stick.

"I-I can never understand how you a-and Sasuke can do that with a leaf," Karashi said.

Humiya chuckled.

"It just takes practice,"

Karashi just shook his head.

"Do you think Sasuke is lost?" Karashi asked, sounding a bit worried.

Humiya sensed Sasuke hopping from tree to tree above them, most likely had gotten bored waiting in his hiding spot.

"Doubt it. Shouldn't you be hiding?"

"I-I did hide,"

"Hiding behind the back door doesn't count,"

"I-It worked on Sasuke,"

They arrived at their favorite spot by the river. There was a clearing full of different plants and herbs. Humiya made sure to pick some while Karashi checked the crab traps.

"W-we got a few big ones this time,"

Humiya nodded as she picked herbs by the riverbed. She heard rustling in the trees and knew that it was Sasuke taunting them before going into his new hiding spot.

"Don't you think Sasuke is hiding a little too well?" Humiya asked loud enough for him to hear.

"H-he gets b-better every time we play," Karashi replied, putting the crabs into his leather satchel.

"Okay, let's go back," Humiya said. "Sasuke is just too good, you win."

"Yes!" Sasuke shouted as he hung upside down on a tree branch, his face peeking out of the leaves.

"I'll race you back! Last one back is a rotten egg!" Humiya laughed before breaking into a run with Karashi.

"Hey, I'm not ready!" Sasuke shouted, struggling to climb down the tree.

They all ran back to the shop as fast as they could. Of course, Sasuke won.