A/N: OVER 1,000 VIEWS?!

Thank you all for your support! It gives me so much motivation and confidence in my writing and keeps me going. I know that with every chapter, I am getting better and better at this craft!

I never thought that it would get this big. Now it is my ultimate goal to have this fanfic be in the small percentage of being completed!

This is a short chapter. The next one will be out sometime this week or next week.

Thank you, Brindani, for being my Beta!

Happy Reading! O.O

To Change Fate

Chapter 4: Stoic Bond

The eventful day of coming to her new home ended with a seemingly quiet night. Konoha nightlife brussels outside her open window, people passing by through wisps of small flames, some larger than others. Humiya closed her eyes and wondered if there would ever be pure darkness. She sensed faint pulses everywhere, warm currents sweeping past from moving flames. The constant stimulus oddly didn't pain her at all. In truth, it made her feel more real, more connected.

This feels nice… like I'll never be in that dark void ever again.

Humiya mused as she watched the world wrap her in a glittery blanket of energy.

She snuggled herself into her new crib with a sigh, the soft cream cushion sinking against her small frame. It was made of a warm brown wood which color fit perfectly with her cream-colored walls surrounded by deep brown beams.

Humiya took a deep breath as she was lulled by the glittery ambiance.

I could get used to this.

But before she was consumed by blissful sleep, a heinous stench filled her nostrils. Shame overcame Humiya as she felt the liquid warmth spread across her nether regions.

I wet myself again! Disgusting!

She lamented as she opened her eyes wide, the sense of dread overwhelming her.

Humiya struggled in her soiled mess as the gravity of her situation finally twisted into the forefront of her mind, making the reeking mess of her filled diaper worse.

Who am I kidding?! How could I have thought anything good is going to come out of this? Especially with who my family is. How could I not think of the tragedy that awaits me? Can I really make Itachi love me enough to spare me? At this rate, I am not going to survive my second puberty. How am I even going to complete my end of the deal when Massacre is going to kill me before my new life even begins?!

Tears fell from her eyes as she let out a wail, covering her face with her pudgy hands as she wept at her situation.

So many people are going to be killed by Itachi. How can I save anyone when I don't even know how to save myself?

Without warning, the door to her room slid open. Humiya flinched at the sudden noise, her eyes like saucers when she moved her hands down to see a disgruntled Fugaku enter the room.

His bags and creases under his eyes looked more pronounced against the light that flowed into the room from the bright hallway, his eyebrows scrunched together as he hastily walked toward her. He was no longer in his work uniform. Instead, he wore a deep green kimono that was white at the hem with grey pants.

Don't look at me like that! What happened to your concern for me the last time I saw you?

She sniffed before coughing at the disgusting fumes her diaper emitted.

"I am here, so calm down. Do not cry yourself sick again," Fugaku grumbled, face morphing into a sneer at the smell.

Humiya felt tears return to her eyes as she gazed at Fugaku's sour expression.

You think I am nothing but a burden, don't you? Huh? Well, it is not my fault I can't move! You are just like my father. And you have done much worse! You raised a monster! A monster who is going to kill us all if I don't do something!

She watched as he lowered the wooden side of the crib and took out a clean cloth diaper and other supplies. Her face turned red as Fugaku turned her legs and began the process of changing her, his careful hands quickly unraveling the soiled cloth off of her. Humiya couldn't help but sob as he changed her with the skillful hand of someone who changed diapers hundreds of times.

Fugaku let out a sigh of relief after he flung the dirty diaper into the waste bin and put away the other materials. She didn't even notice that her guardian was done changing her until he picked her up.

"Shh, Humiya, it is alright. You are clean now," Fugaku stated as he put her head on his shoulder.

Humiya didn't even try to understand what he said; she was too caught up in the feeling of being violated.

I don't want to get used to this. I am an adult! You hear me?! AN ADULT! I can't do this. I can't be like this anymore!

She only cried harder as she began her inner rampage, beating her small fists against Fugaku's shoulder as she screamed.

Fugaku began to pace around the room, rubbing Humiya's back as she continued her fit.

"What am I going to do with you? With lungs like yours, anyone would think you are as healthy as any other baby," he grumbled with a humorless laugh, swaying as he walked back and forth. "The gall of people. To say to my wife's face that you are intellectually stunted before you even said your first word. First the rumors of another war and now this? Will I ever catch a break?"

"Father?" a voice called. "Is Humiya alright?"

Fugaku turned his head to see Itachi peeking his small head into the room, eyes wide and reflecting the concern in his voice.

"Yes. She is fine," he told his son simply, not missing a beat in his swaying pacing.

"But...she sounds really hurt," Itachi fretted as he gripped the doorway.

"I know Humiya does, but the smallest things can set a baby off. And sometimes babies just cry because they need to cry. You were like this too when we first brought you home from the hospital,"

"I was?" Itachi asked, walking into the room towards his father and grabbed his leg.

"Yes, you were. The moment Mikoto brought you into this house, you cried for hours. New scents and surrounds can be overwhelming for a newborn," Fugaku said, using the hand that he was rubbing Humiya's back with to shuffle Itachi's hair.

"Okay," Itachi replied with a small smile, putting his hand on his head.

He looked over at the still screeching Humiya. "Do you think a pacifier would help her calm down?"

"That new trinket? I almost forgot about that thing. They were around when you were a baby. We made you suck on cow bones and cloth soaked in milk. Now, where is it?"

Fugaku began to go through the bag under Humiya's crib before taking a pink rubber one out.

Humiya's eyes opened wide with shock the moment Fugaku popped it into her mouth and cursed herself as she gave in to the impulse to suck the pacifier. She turned her head to see Fugaku's relieved expression and Itachi's bright smile.

"Humiya stopped crying!" Itachi cheered, grabbing Fugaku's sleeve before going on his toes to have a closer look at his sister.

Humiya stared back at Itachi's bright black eyes, confused.

When did he get in here? And why does he look so happy?

She flinched as Fugaku gently wiped her tear stricken face with his sleeve.

"Mmhmm," Fugaku replied as he kneeled down so that Itachi could get a better look at his sister.

Once Fugaku was down to Itachi's level, Itachi hesitantly rubbed Humiya's head, making her brow knit together as he continued to touch her.

"Time for bed," Fugaku ordered a few moments later, lifting himself up as he did.

"Aww," Itachi voiced quietly, clutching the bottom hem of his shirt.

"Now or I will not help you train tomorrow," Fugaku commanded more sternly, making Itachi's eyes widen before scurrying out of the room.

He watched as his son left the room, his stern sneer slowly shifting into a grave frown. "So innocent. If a war does happen, I am going to have to beat that out of him," he sighed to himself before looking down at a frowning Humiya.

You didn't have to yell at him, you know! By far, you are the worst father ever! You neglect Sasuke when he is born and the massacre was your fault! You must have done something wrong to cause Itachi to become a ruthless murderer.

Humiya's mind went blank when she noticed Fugaku blink back tears but one quickly escaped despite his efforts, making him quickly wipe it away before clearing his throat.

He turned his head to the open window and gazed at the full moon now high in the sky.

"I will beat it out of both of you, starting with Itachi," he faltered, almost at a loss.

Was that a tear? But Fugaku never cried in the entire manga! Why now of all times? Why now?

The answer to her endless string of questions eluded as Fugaku lightly stroked Humiya's nose with a finger and swayed her into restless dreams.