Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or the song that inspired me to write this story

Chapter Five: Finally Next to You

It took a very long time before the clan finally arrived at a decision, sadly she was sent out before they made clear how it would turn out. Hinata felt so drained that she decided to take a walk. Her body is tensed that she started to rotate her shoulders to relieve it from stiffness.

"Are you tired?"

Hinata was surprised that Naruto was still in the compound. "Naruto have you been here all this time?" Hinata asked.

He gave her a small smile then nodded. "Yeah, well Neji said that Hiashi wanted to talk to me after you guys discussed it... I'm sorry that the meeting went out of hand..." Naruto said tucking a stray strand of hair behind Hinata's ear and as expected she blushed. "You look so beautiful when you blush..."

"Thank you Naruto-kun..." She replied shyly.

"Hinata I promise I'll do all I can to make sure that..."

"Naruto-kun you did more than enough already... you loved me back and asked for my hand even though you thought that odds are against you... I couldn't really ask for more..."Hinata said in all honesty. "By the way Naruto-kun, why did you think that I am out of your league when you had such an amazing family?" Hinata asked. "Not that it's important or anything, for me you're still the same Naruto I fell in love with ever since I was young."

"Aside from it's a Class-S village secret? I am an orphan, most of my family's probably dead so as the elders said, my clan's practically dead. And even though it was shed into light, we can't change the fact that in these walls you are their most precious princess as I am only the protector of this village..." Naruto replied. "By the way, I was meaning to ask you, when did you know that I love you?"

Hinata smiled shyly then said. "The day we had the picnic, I kind of overheard you talking to Sakura about me... I was so happy that day, so when Oto-san told me that the council was planning for me to get engage, I was so devastated, I never thought that I'd really hear you say that you loved me..." She said with a blush.

Naruto took both her hands and kissed them then rested them on his cheeks. "Your hands are always warm, I wish I could feel this warmth for the rest of my life..."

Hinata's eyes teared in happiness. "Naruto-kun..." Hinata whispered.

Naruto began lowering his head to hers when they heard somebody cleared their throat. Both of them blushed when they found Hiashi looking at them with stern eyes.

"Ah hi, Hiashi..." Naruto said dropping his hand away from Hinata.

"The two of you follow me..." Hiashi said then lead the way to different room with in the house.

Both Hinata and Naruto were surprised to find Tsunade and Shizune was there. "Baa-chan I thought that you have something important to do..." Naruto said surprised.

"Oh my, I thought discussing your betrothal with Hinata is important..." She replied with a sheepish smile.

They were just stunned. "Betrothal? You mean engagement?" Hinata exclaimed.

"The council thought that it would benefit the clan if the future Hyuga Clan head would have inherited the long life of the Uzumaki clan." Hiashi replied.

"Oi Hiashi, we discussed this yesterday! Whether the child would have Byakugan or not, the last names would be Uzumaki, the gaki also needs to rebuild his clan you know!" Tsunade replied.

"Is that true Oto-san?" Hinata asked expectantly looking at her father's eyes.

Hiashi smiled brightly, "Yes, except if the first born is a girl, the last name would be Hyuga but the rest of your children if you decided to, would be Uzumaki..."

"WAIT!" Naruto shouted halting all of the conversation. "Don't tell me Baa-chan that you've planned all of these and besides you guys are planning mine and Hinata's future without even talking to us that's unfair!" Naruto accused, but Tsunade's eyes only twinkled.

"You better mind your manners boy, you're lucky enough that I'm allowing you to even meet my daughter!" Hiashi replied coolly.

"It's alright Hiashi, it was Sakura that told me this piece of news, and anyway he is somewhat correct!" Tsunade said.

"No! You guys already decided even if I haven't asked Hinata herself!" Naruto shot back.

Hinata's heart fluttered, as Naruto looked flustered as he muttered something about being beat into the proposal as he dug into his pockets. "We were at the Land of the Waves a few weeks ago, getting the information about the Land of Whirlpools when I found this ring..." Naruto said opening his palm revealing a simple ring with a clear round stone at the crown that engulfed in a soft blue light. "Inari said that this stone is called Ningyon No Namida, the crying mermaid blessing her loved ones to be happy forever." He explained as he slipped the ring in her finger. "With your father, Baa-chan and Shizune as witness, here I am, Uzumaki Naruto asking you Hyuga Hinata, to marry me..." He said elaborately.

Hinata was beyond words, tears of happiness flowed not only from her eyes, she noticed Shizune was also tearing up and Tsunade smiling brightly even her father's expression softened. She flung herself at Naruto nearly knocking him down. "Yes, yes, yes! A million times yes!" She replied happily.

Finally she'll be glad to stand by next to him, proud of what he achieved in his own right, as he fought for what he believed in.

THE END

Author's Note:
I really enjoyed writing this piece of Fiction. I hope you guys liked it and please comment so I know what would I need to improve on. thanks for reading.

the last and final verse of the song...

[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
Baby call me crazy
But I know you feel it too
Maybe I, Maybe I
Just got to get next to you
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I got to get next to you