Three

The dragon rose out of the water, its pale body glimmered silver-green in the cold night air.

"What the hell is that?!" Miri exclaimed.

"It's a water dragon…ice dragon actually," Sakura said. She concentrated, trying to get a lock on whoever was controlling it. A creature of that size had to have some high level jutsu behind it. After a few moments she shook her head. "I can't pinpoint the source of the jutsu."

"You are certain it is not real?"

"Yes."

"And since you cannot find the source, we will have to fight it directly. Correct?"

Sakura nodded.

"Lovely." Miri grimaced, turned, and hurried towards the dock. Naruto joined her moments later.

"Get off the dock!" she yelled at Kankuro. "Let us…"

"Screw that!" He waved them away. "I've got it covered. Just stand there and watch the light show."

"Fine, but maybe…hey!" Miri was interrupted as Karasu zoomed by low enough to smack the back of her head before flying out to confront the dragon.

Miri rubbed her head. "Ass," she muttered. "Would the show look any different if you were here, where it is safer?" She watched the puppets for a few moments. "Ah, he has been itching to try that."

"Try what?" Naruto asked.

"A new attack."

"Cool. What's it called?"

"Not sure, probably something long and weird. Keep your eyes on their lower arms, that is where the pulse originates. Not sure how he plans to keep that thing occupied while the charge builds."

"How about that?" Naruto pointed.

A large bird had appeared; swooping and diving at the dragon's head, trying to peck its eyes out. While the dragon swatted at it, Karasu and Kuroari started to fly in a circle around it. In a few moments they were going so fast that it was hard to see them. Naruto became aware of a low humming sound.

"What's he going to do?" Naruto asked again.

Kankuro was always dreaming up the weirdest attacks; weird but formidable. And they were always loud and flashy, which was something Naruto could relate to.

"If I tell you, it will ruin the dramatic effect."

"What's that horrible noise?" Sakura had joined them.

There was a crack and a high pitched whine. Pale blue light began to play around the lower arms of the two puppets. Everyone could feel the hair on their arms start to prickle.

Sakura's eyes got wide. "It's an electro-static charge."

"A lectro-stabbin what now?"

Sakura made an exasperated sound. "Electro-static silly. Think electricity, but combined with Kankuro's chakra. He's both an earth and lightening user, but this looks like some kind of lightning attack, right?" Sakura frowned. "Should he be out on that dock? And how is he grounding himself?"

"His boots have thick soles and his own chakra helps. And I agree, standing front and center like that is not prudent." Miri made a gesture of despair. "Unfortunately, he does not do prudent."

A loud boom split the night air and the smell of ozone overpowered the salty sea smell. Naruto felt the hair on the back of his neck rise up. Blue light arched towards the dragon, striking its chest. Long cracks appeared down the dragon's neck, lengthening with a sound like breaking bone.

"Hey, if that explodes…" Sakura started.

"Kankuro! Get off the dock!" Miri yelled at the same moment.

A second blast snaked through the air and the dragon exploded. Chunks of ice flew through the air and crashed into the shore and rained down on everyone.

Naruto put his hands up to shield his head and dodged a boulder sized piece of ice. "Excellent technique!"

He started to grin, but stopped when he saw the horrified looks on Sakura's and Miri's faces.

"What…?"

There was another explosion, this time from under the water. Just like an iceberg, most of the dragon's mass had been below the water. Its body and tail filled much of the harbour; twisted and curled under and around the docks. When they exploded, a mass of ice and water shot upwards, smashing through the docks and boats. Naruto lost sight of Kankuro among the ice, water, and pieces of wood. When everything had rained back down and they could see again the puppeteer and most of the dock were gone.

Sakura pressed her hands to her mouth and gasped.

"There!" Miri pointed.

It was Karasu and Kuroari. The puppets were flying in a tight circle over the water, but their spirals were getting smaller and smaller and they were losing height. Then they crashed into the water.

"Crap!" Naruto ran out to the end of the shattered dock, trying to think of what to do. Kankuro was pretty far out, and there was no way they could get a boat out in time.

Someone nudged his shoulder. It was Miri. When he looked at her, she pushed a piece of rope into his hand. It was the end of a long coil and the other end was tied around her waist. She had discarded her jacket, mail shirt, and sword. She had her eyes fixed on the spot where the puppets had disappeared into the water.

"Sakura…"

"I'll be ready. Be quick Miri, you'll have four or five minutes. If you don't find…" Sakura trailed off, not wanting to even think about it.

"Will not happen. When I tug Naruto, you pull us in."

"Right."

Miri paused and Sakura could sense her preparing for what she was going to do. After a few moments there was a massive pulse of energy and Sakura could see a yellow glow start in the other woman's eyes.

"Be ready," she said and dove into the water.

"I'll get blankets," Sakura said and hurried off.

Naruto nodded and tightened his grip on the rope so he would feel any little twitch or tug.

"That's insane," a voice said behind him; one of the sailors. "The water's freezing. No one can survive for long in there. And she'll never find him."

"Oh, yes she will," Naruto asserted. "She said she would. So she will. Believe it!"