Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Naruto, nor the song that inspired me to write this story
Chapter One: Hopefully
It was already in the wee hours of the morning but still Hinata can't seem to fall asleep. She was tired there's no doubt about that, but her thoughts were filled with a certain blond blue eyed boy with a rambunctious personality.
Funny thing was, even though the boy is nowhere near Hinata at the moment, her face started to blush at the mere thought of him. It had been a couple weeks since the last time she saw him as things are finally starting to quiet down, though the Akatsuki is still at large but with Madara as the only one left, and he was forced into hiding, they could probably take it easy at the moment.
Hinata's heart pounded to her chest that she felt excited, Naruto is coming home tomorrow – wait, scratch that—later. She can't help herself, she was too excited that she sat up in her bed and looked at the direction of the Konoha gates. It has been four years since she confessed her feelings for him, in between the heat of battle between Pein and herself, trying desperately to protect her most precious person. Of course she isn't expecting him to respond to her feelings but still it would be nice to receive an answer from him, though it might be rejection at least she would know where she stands. She finally decided to wait for the sunrise, it was utterly useless to try and get back to sleep.
She left out a deep sigh and then only noticed that the sun had already started to rise, she watched to indigo clouds change into hues of pink and orange then bright yellow it was long before she finally took herself out of bed and start preparing for the day.
Hinata was standing by the gates of Konoha as she waited for Naruto and his team to come home.
"Hinata-sama what are you doing here?" Asked a handsome young man with long dark hair and pearly eyes, clad in white long sleeved shirt with matching with pants and a dark wrap around his hips.
"Nothing Neji nii-san, I'm just waiting..." She replied brightly.
"Waiting for Naruto no doubt!" Said the girl with dark brown hair tied in twin buns as her brown eyes glittered mischievously.
"N-not r-re-really..." Hinata replied, her face turning into five shades of red as she played with her fingers.
Both Neji and Ten-ten laughed at her instant reaction, it never changed even though many years had already passed. Hinata's face became brighter when she cleared her throat trying to quieten the two down. "A-an-anywa-ay, wha-what b-brings t-th-the t-two of y-you he-here?" She asked then swallowed. "Are you guys on a date?" She asked playfully hoping to draw attention away from her.
The two of them suddenly fell silent as Neji blushed a bit and Ten-ten ducked her head and gave her a small shy smile.
Hinata simply beamed at the two of them. "If you guys are going somewhere, don't let me keep you..." She said urging them to go. Neji simply nodded and then took Ten-ten's hand then walked away. "Have fun you two!" She said waiving them off. Neji waved back at his cousin then they were out of site. Hinata was glad that her cousin found a special person for himself.
"Hinata!" The loud familiar voice called out which made her smile. Hinata turned to expect to look at a familiar face and she wasn't at all disappointed.
Naruto was running towards her, his face was decorated with a bright smile and his blue eyes sparkled in glee.
"Oi! Naruto! Wait up!" Sakura shouted but the young man merely ignored it until he came face to face with Hinata.
"How... are... you...?" Naruto asked excitedly in between catching his breath.
"I'm okay..." Hinata replied smiling brightly. "How about you?" She asked touching his shoulder.
"Wonderful!" He replied with exuberance then hugged her tightly.
She felt blood rushed to her face making her dizzy and weak kneed "Eep!"
He let go of her but his hands still rests on her arms. "I missed you so much Hinata!" Naruto said excitedly.
"I-I m-mi-missed y-y-you t-t-too..." Hinata replied as she desperately tried to regain her composure and calm her erratically beating heart.
"Boy no matter how many missions I go too, I still would miss Konoha!" He said as he finally let her go.
"Don't run off like that Naruto!" Sakura reprimanded, then she turned to Hinata and greeted her warmly "Hi Hinata!"
"Hello Sakura, Kakashi-sensei, welcome back to Konoha!"
"I wasn't aware that we have a welcoming committee..." Kakashi commented lazily, and then shrugged not waiting for a reply. "Hey we have to get going, we need to report our mission and do the debriefing at the Hokage Tower."
Naruto frowned. "Do we have to? Can't you just go Kakashi-sensei I'm feeling kind of tired..." Said Naruto dropping his arm around Hinata
"Yeah, I know... anyway we need too and besides it going to be your day off tomorrow so it's better to it now..." Their sensei replied.
"You should do the debriefing now Naruto, it's my day off tomorrow too, all of us could go for a picnic, I'm sure the others would love to join us..." Hinata suggested.
"What a wonderful idea, we should bring things for the picnic! It's been so long since the last time we just relaxed..." Sakura agreed.
"Then a picnic for tomorrow then!" Naruto exclaimed excitedly.
"Now that that's been decided, can we go?" Kakashi asked as he started to move toward the Hokage Tower.
"Ok!" Naruto agreed pumping his fist in the air thrilled for tomorrow then walked at the left of Kakashi.
"Bye guys, see you later!" Hinata said waving goodbye, Sakura and Naruto waved back then walked away, she simply watched his back admiringly, when suddenly he stopped at mid-stride then ran back to her. "Have you forgotten something?" Hinata asked.
"Yeah..." He replied then hugged her once again. "It's good to be back!" He said happily then ran back to his teammates.
Hinata was dumbfounded as she absently stared at Naruto arguing with Sakura as Kakashi trying to ignore the two and reading his beloved book. Her knees gave way and she was now sitting on the dirt. Her face broke into a bright smile, despite the fact that her face now is probably brick red. 'Maybe, just maybe, he feels something more than friendship towards me...' Hinata thought, as a small flame of hope started to flicker in her heart.
Author's Note:
This story was inspired by Jordin Spark's song entitled Next to You, you guys could listen to it while reading so you guys could understand why I made it out like this. Anyway these are the first verse and Chorus of the song:
Next to You
by: Jordin Sparks
Two 'o clock and I wish that I was sleeping
You're in my head like a song on the radio
All I know is that I got to get next to you
Yeah I got to get next to you
Sitting here turning minutes into hours
To find the nerve just to call you on the telephone
You don't know that I got to get next to you
[Chorus]
Maybe were friends
Maybe were more
Maybe it's just my imagination
But I see you stare just a little too long
And it makes me start to wonder
So baby call me crazy
But I think you feel it too
Maybe I, Maybe I
Just got to get next to you