A/N: Hello guys! I posted this piece of work over Tumblr for NH month's "Proposal" prompt first. But story got out of my hand and turned into a multi-chapter fic.

This is the aftermath of The Last. It's mostly going to be Naruto centric because his POV is so underused in NH fics! I'm having a lot of fun while writing this and I hope you enjoy it just as I do.

So here we go!

one more step to the happy ending

"YOU TOLD HER WHAT?!"

Two kunoichi jumped in frustration after hearing the story of Konoha's newest couple. Third one could only sigh at her friend's clueless action. Naruto blinked in confusion, a question mark appearing above his head; he was not expecting the reaction he got. He repeated himself again, trying to find out the wrong part this time:

"I told her I wanted to spend every single day of my life with her." Girls were shaking in anger, he could see the popping vein on Sakura's face. How did he screw up this time?

"I don't understand, what's wrong?" He turned to Kiba for some support, "Isn't this the part they are supposed to say 'Aww, how romantic!' ?" Kiba shrugged at blonde's question, he was enjoying the humiliation Naruto was about to receive. Facepalming, Ino answered the clueless lovesick,

"You just proposed to her, dummy!"

Naruto closed his eyes and nodded without hesitation, while stroking his chin, "Well, I suppose you can say that."

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'YOU CAN SAY THAT'?" Tenten reached out to Sakura's clenched fist that was about to hit him. "Well, Naruto, while it's very romantic of you, you still have to propose her properly if you are serious about her," she said.

"Properly..? Wait, crap I proposed to her! And- well- I mean it but…" Naruto flushed all pink at the moment of realization. Hinata's lovely smile in a gown flashed in his head, he never once thought about that before.

Sakura let out a huge sigh and sat back to her chair, "She's not going to start wedding planning right away but you pretty much promised to her," she looked back at him again, this time with kindness in her eyes. "You should start planning on your proposal once you two get past basics. You know how to do it, right?"

Naruto looked at his empty plate, he was sweating over what he implied to her, to everyone. Feelings and thoughts were all running wild in his brain and he had no idea how to put them into words. He was sure of it; he wanted a family maybe more than becoming Hokage and he wanted that person to be Hinata if he ever attempted to start one. He also wanted everything's best for Hinata and…there was the tricky part. He had no idea how to give her the best. From reading several books to desperately seeking out help from his friends, in the end he always failed in his attempts to give her something worthy of her. Hinata made it clear more than once that she didn't mind his screw ups, in fact she appreciated him more for the thought alone.

But this was different. He promised to her, to her father and sister. He was going to become the man she deserved and he had no intention of giving up on that promise. He looked back at kunoichis, with a serious look that belongs to the man he became in the last month:

"I have no idea."

"INFAMY!", girls cried out. Their voices eclipsed on each other, Naruto could barely make out their shouting.

"AND YOU CALL YOURSELF A MAN?"

"HINATA DOESN'T DESERVE THIS!"

"IDIOT! YOU ARE A HOPELESS IDIOT!"

"LADIES LADIES STOP!" Naruto stood up, waving his hands vigorously to calm them down. "I'm willing to learn at least," he said and winked at them, he was finally grasping how to take control of the mood thanks to Hiashi's politics lessons, "…I'm willing to learn from the best."

As expected, three kunoichi melted.

"Of course, my dear, you just ask!" As if she was a teacher at academy, Ino leaned back on her chair, crossed her arms and gave a rueful look at Naruto.

"Now now now, first, take her to a fancy restaurant!"

"The type where you have to wear a suit! Definitely NOT Ichiraku's" Tenten exclaimed. Ino nodded, "Don't forget to make arrangements beforehand! When you enter it's hall, the waiter will ask 'Do you have a reservation?' Hinata will melt when you say yes and sees you booked the table at restaurant's best corner!"

Sakura cut in her best friend's heated romance lesson: "It really doesn't have to be a restaurant," she said. "As you guys know, Naruto can't afford such." Naruto muttered thank you at his friend's saving moment, he well knew how restaurants worked. "Take her to a romantic place! Silent, away from Konoha, where you two can watch the sunset!" Now Sakura was the one losing herself in her fantasy land. "Maybe to a waterfall hmm? Ah, maybe the one where you trained for Rasenshuriken?"

Ino side eyed at Sakura's suggestion, "What the hell Sakura? Hinata is a princess and should be treated as one! You can't make a cheap proposal Naruto!" She turned back at Naruto, raising her index finger: "And I'm not even counting 'the ring' in this!"

"The…ring..?" Naruto gulped, things were turning out more complex than the one he had in mind.

This time it was Tenten who shot an angry glare, "The ring you are going to propose to her with of course! A bit pricy but it'll show the depth of your love!"

Naruto was about to cry. He could barely afford a date with her, how the hell he was going to come up with a proper proposal?

"When the time comes for desserts…" Oh, so Ino was still at restaurant. "…You look at the waiter and snap your fingers - like this,- " she snapped her fingers eyes closed to demonstrate her point, "- because you told waiter about it before, he'll just nod and go to back side to tell musicians to come in!" she clasped her hands and sighed dreamily.

"Hinata will gasp in surprise! The violinist will come by her side, playing a beautiful love song~" Ino stood up again and started to imitate Naruto and Hinata's roles,

" 'Oh, Naruto-kun, this is so romantic~', ' If it means to make you happy Hinata, I'll bring the heavens down!', 'Ooooh, Naruto-kuuun~"

Gang laughed at Ino's little show, except for Naruto and Sai- who was busy noting down Ino's words for future reference. Kiba elbowed Naruto, "She's really good at mimicking you disgusting love birds, isn't she?" It was true that Naruto and Hinata became quite famous in village for the love they had for each other. "Konoha's Speciality*" they would say. Neither Naruto nor Hinata was bothered by the remarks about their relationship but it didn't prevent old Rookies from making fun of them at every chance they got.

Ino was back on the story again:

"And nooow comes the juicy part!"

"It's gonna be in champagne!" Tenten said, she was excited to hear the rest.

Ino sighed and shook her head, "Well, knowing these two…Hinata might choke on it, heck maybe even accidentally this idiot will pick up that glass! No no, we can't take that risk, we are going for good old-fashioned style, and that's enough. Sai, come here!"

"What about champagne they just said?" Naruto whispered to Sakura's ear, he was learning something new from each word Ino said so far.

"Oh, it's the ring. Waiter puts the ring inside of Hinata's champagne glass and while she's drinking, she notices it and ta-da~ You propose to her! You can also do it with food too," said Sakura and winked at her friend. Naruto tried to picture the scene in his head, fancy restaurant, music, Hinata drinking champagne from her glass and –

"She'd really choke on it," knowing his luck with romance so far, Naruto was truly horrified by the potential train wreck it would lead to. What the hell was that, he wasn't going to kill Hinata to look romantic! He drew his attention back at Ino again, who was telling Sai about his role.

"Let's start Sai! You memorized your lines, right?"

"Yes, my hime."

"Ohoho, already in character," said Kiba, he was trying his hardest to suppress his laughter at the show.

Sai kneeled down in front of Ino, who was…playing someone supposed to be Hinata. She was clasping her hands under her chin with a comically overdone expression on her face. She shifted her expression back at normal and yelled at Naruto, "Watch this carefully!" Then she looked back at Sai again and put her actress face on. Sai pulled out a – box from his pocket? Once Naruto looked at it with attention, he realized it was a mirror he held.

"Why is he holding a mirror?"

Sakura sighed, "We don't have a ring, idiot. This is just for demonstration. When you do the real thing, that will be the ring's box."

"Oh, I see."

Sai opened the fancy mirror and held it out to Ino,

"Hinata Hyuuga, my hime. You lightened my world with your presence and made me the happiest man on this earth. I ask you to pass through life at my side—to be my second self, and best earthly companion. Hinata…will you marry me?"

Ino took an over-acted breath and shrieked in a so-called surprise. "Yes, yes Naruto-kun!" she said over-dramatically and jumped on Sai for a hug. All customers in barbecue shop started applauding the couple, laughs mixed in air.

"Aaaand they lived happily ever after!" said Tenten and added quickly, "well, after the wedding planning…"

Naruto was mortified. Wedding planning? Was it ever going to end?

"Jane Eyre, really Ino?" Sakura was holding her stomach now, wiping tears caused by her laughter.

"Shikamaru and Chouji missed out on this class. They'll need it soon," said Kiba, his laughter was slowly turning into barks.

Oh man, it's so…corny. Naruto thought. His sweats had become colder as the laughs grew louder. It was times like this he wished he was a nobody instead, not a demon that's hated of course, just…someone normal, like them.

It was when he felt Sakura patting on his shoulder.

"As much as I love Ino's suggestion, I know you two. Take her to somewhere private Naruto and make the aura romantic. It'll be better than a restaurant; not only it's cheaper but also I am sure Hinata wouldn't like everyone witnessing the most important moment of her life."

Naruto let out a loud sigh. "Thanks, Sakura-chan. I was starting to get really dep-"

"Oh, the ring part will play out the same though. It's the only way to do this."

Naruto put his head on table in desperation.

How much a little ring would cost anyway?

—

notes:

- The promise Naruto made to Hanabi and Hiashi are from my another planned fic. Him teaching Naruto politics is also another shout out to that fic.

*"Konoha's Speciality": This one comes from Twitter and Pixiv. Many Japanese fans believe Naruto and Hinata would be sickeningly lovey-dovey in public and they would gain this nickname. I'm behind of that headcanon so I jumped on the wagon as well.