DISCLAIMER!: I DON'T OWN NARUTO! Thought you'd know by now...

(A/N): What up guys, Bulba Fett here with a special announcement. I will be holding one, final Q&A in chapter 100. You guys will need to get your questions in FAST so I can answer them for the chapter. This will be the last Q&A I do, so even if you guys don't ask any questions before then, I will be making a special announcement and answer some past questions I've gotten in my review!

But enough of that,

TO THE STORY!

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Chapter 97: Horrid News

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The two newly weds parted for a brief moment and Naruto smiled. "I love you Hinata, for now and forever." he said to her. She returned his smiled and leaned closer to him. "And I love you, Naruto, for now and forever." she said back to him as they kissed for a second time.

. . . .

Naruto woke up with the feeling of a warm body pressed up to him. It wasn't necessarily a new feeling, but he was still getting used to waking up with someone else in his bed. He liked it. Knowing he could wake up and see the one he loved most laying there next him.

Hinata laid next Naruto, breathing gently as she slept on his shoulder, her legs wrapped in his. Naruto smiled at her and brushed a wild lock of hair from her face. She stirred from his touch and slowly opened her eyes. She let her waking eyes wander before fixing them on the cerulean pools in front of her. She smiled to her husband and snuggled a little closer. "Morning Naru-kun~" she yawned as she rested against him. Naruto smiled wider and held her a little closer, taking in her sent. "Let's just sleep in, mkay..." she said to him in a sleepy haze.

Naruto chuckled and kissed her on her forehead. "Oh, Hime. If only were so lucky. I've got a meeting with the council at noon." he grunted to her as he painstakingly extracted himself from her embrace. She pouted and rolled onto her side. "Is it really the end of our Honey Moon already~" she whined and pouted to her husband as he got dressed. Naruto laughed as he slipped on a black long sleeve shirt with orange lining. "Sadly, yes Hime. It's been a week. So we have to return to active duty." he sighed and slipped on his scroll belt and shin guards.

Hinata sighed in mock annoyance and slowly got out of bed and join her husband in getting ready. "I guess that means I have to do my duty to the village too." she yawned. Naruto chuckled and gave her a quick kiss. "I'll go get breakfast started."

. . . .

After leaving home Naruto made his way over to the council room at a leisurely pace, saying hi to several of the villagers, getting offers of congratulations and people telling him welcome back. It was good to be back. He had missed the busy streets of Konoha while he was on his long trip away from home.

He walked into the Hokage Tower and was greeted by Shizune. "Hey there Naruto-kun. You here for the meeting?" she asked with a smile. Naruto nodded and gave her a wave as he passed. "Yup, I'll see ya later Shizune-neechan. Tell Sakura I said hi." he said as he started up the stairs up to the chamber room.

When he got to the room it was 11:45. He walked into the large double doors and took in who was already there.

There were a few civilian councilmen as well as the old Ino-Shika-Chou trio. Hiashi was of course early and waiting with his stoic expression. Naruto also saw his father, but knew he was just a clone. Why didn't he think of that? Probably because if Tsunade found out he'd get throttled for not sharing in her hell known as politics. He walked over and took his seat next to his father and gave him a slight glare. "Lucky prick." he growled at the clone.

Cole's clone stuck out his tongue. "Rude brat." he mocked back. Naruto huffed and turned away from him. He gave Hiashi a nod in greeting and received one in return. That had basically been their relationship since he first started dating Hinata, mutual dislike and coexistence. He continued to look around the room and noticed the slightly somber, subdued mood. He narrowed his eyes and leaned back into his chair.

Today was going to be interesting...

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Tsunade walked into the room last, following behind Jiraiya. The white haird sage had a frown on his face as he took his seat and Tsunade looked like she was having a rather bad hangover. She flopped down into her seat and looked around the room. She gave a quick nod and welcome back to Naruto before looking between Cole and Jiraiya.

"Well, you two care to explain what you've heard?" she said to the two in an apprehensive tone. Jiraiya sighed and shook his head before looking to Cole. "You want to break the news or do you want me to?" he sighed. Cole's mood turned on a complete 180. The room chilled as he stood up, his eyes gaining a serious look while he looked to everyone on the council. And it was at that moment, Naruto figured out, this wasn't a clone.

"Members of the council, I bring you some...grave news." he started. "My spies have found out that there is going to be attack on Sunagakure...soon. I don't know how soon, but the Akatsuki is issuing a full on assault." he said in a severe tone. Several council members gasped in shock, save the shinobi council. They were already briefed about the imbending attack on their allies the night before, except Naruto, he was on vacation. "WHAT!" he shouted in outrage. "And were just now hearing this!?" he questioned.

Cole gave him a glance, but his eyes said 'shut up and listen'. And shut up he did, but that didn't mean he liked it. Cole looked over the council and waited for the scared and worried murmurs to end. But when they didn't Tsunade slapped her palm on her desk, making a loud thump, shutting everyone up. Cole gave her a nod of thanks before continuing. "I propose we send a contingent of Konoha shinobi to assist in the defense of our Ally." he offered to the council, gaining some nods, and some sneers of disapproval. "Why would they be so bold to attack a hidden village? They couldn't possibly be strong enough to take on an entire village?" one of the civilian council members questioned, doubting Cole's information.

Cole leveled his gaze at the man and sighed. "And if I were to say they not only have Uchiha Sasuke with them...but a man with the same eyes as mine?" he said in a grave voice. This time, nearly all of the council, including Naruto and Tsunade, gasped in shock. "YOU LIE! SASUKE-SAMA WOULD NEVE-" the same councilman as before began to shout but was cut off when Cole turned his gaze into a glare. "Do not doubt my words councilman. And if we do not act quickly, we could lose an allied nation. Make. A. Decision." he growled out, trying to make his urgency known.

Tsunade decided to speak up before anyone else could anger the Oracle further. "Seinaru-dono, who do you think we should send? You seem to know our enemies strengths." she said, trying to change the topic of doubts.

Cole thought for a moment before turning to Tsunade. "I will go myself, along with Jiraiya, Naruto, Gai, and Kakashi." Cole offered to the Hokage. She thought as council members argued the fact they shouldn't send their Jinchuuriki, let alone three of their strongest shinobi. She was about to answer but was cut off when a new voice echoed into the room. "I will go as well." Sarutobi Hiruzen stated as he marched into the council room. The room was silenced at his input. Cole looked at him for a moment before giving him a smile.

"You don't have to do this you know." he said, more of a statement than a question. Hiruzen smiled at him and gave a slight chuckle. "If I wasn't there, how would we know you could gt it done? Besides, anything to help a friend." he responded. Cole turned to Tsunade with a questioning gaze. Tsunade fought over the information, what this team could do, how it might turn out. After a moment she sighed heavily before waving her hand to them.

"Mission granted. You have two days before you are to go and assist Sunagakure." she said to him. Cole was about to respond but she held up a hand to silence him. "But, you need a medic. I'm sending Sakura with you. And one more thing, just how many of them are we looking at?" she said to him. "How many will you be fighting, who are they?" she questioned him.

Cole closed his eyes and sighed, looking at Jiraiya and back to Tsunade. "We will be facing eleven enemies. Sasori of the Red Sands, Deidara..." he started before looking to Jiraiya. "And the two heads of the Akatsuki. Konan, the Angle of Amegakure, and their leader, Pein. Amegakure's God, or better known as Uzumaki Nagato."

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(A/N): To be continued...

SET UP CHAPTER IS SET UP! REMEMBER Q&A ON CHAPTER 100!

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