Reaching his hand into the picnic basket, Kiba pulled a small scroll from beneath the empty containers. As he opened the seal he spoke without turning his head. "Karui, go back to the hotel and grab our luggage. Whatever you think we'll need. Akamaru, start with the buildings on fire, get people out of there and get them up on the hill south of town."

"When I drop off the luggage I'll help by getting the crew off the cruise ship." Karui stepped into a pair of sandals before running off towards the hotel. Akamaru ran off the beach and into the line of fire.

Finally opening the scroll Kiba focused his chakra into his eyes and ears. Running off towards the light tower on the docks he hoped his timing and senses would not fail him this day. Wrapping the thin scroll around his wrist he waited for the next volley from the ships to come. His eyes picked up the smoke as his ears confirmed the shots.

"So much for a quiet vacation." Explosive tag kunai appeared in his hands which he hurled at the incoming projectiles. It was a matter of precise aim and timing, but he had been practicing. Six shots came soaring over the water in a close pattern. Judging their trajectory with his hearing was difficult with how fast they were flying, but with a little luck the four kunai he threw managed to force them down early into the beach and waves.

'I'll have to thank Gai sensei for those joint training exercises. My kunai skills sucked before I started learning from Tenten.' Another round of cannon fire came from the boats, and the eight shots required six kunai to throw them off course. 'With any luck they'll blame their gunners and not suspect any outside hand.' Kiba took a moment to double check his hiding place and was assurred he was out of sight.

Between shots, Kiba glanced over his shoulder and looked back at the town. Teams of firefighters were busy putting out the blazes on the wood buildings. The majority of people were evacuating north, towards the open plains. His ears sensed the next salvo before the sound reached the shores. These he allowed to hit closer to the town than the others. Giving the gunners the thought that their aim was improving would allay their suspicions for at least another volley or two, long enough for Akamaru to evacuate anyone in those buildings.

Karui arrived next to Kiba and set down their bags. "Left side pocket you'll find two scrolls. Take the bags down to the bottom of the light tower and seal our luggage in the scrolls." With a tap on his shoulder, Karui hefted the bags and jumped down. Kiba knew that their most valuable resource at this time was their anonymity. For some reason the Land of Water's navy was attacking one of its own towns, and it would be harder to find out why if their presence was known.

The four ships finally began turning towards the city and came in under their own power. Taking another careful moment, Kiba jumped down and took the scroll containing his luggage from Karui. Jumping down into the water, Kiba was grateful that they were still wearing their swimsuits as going by water made it easier to stay out of sight.

Making their way to the undamaged sections of old town, Kiba led them towards the blacksmith's shop they had stopped by earlier that day. Strangely, the shop was completely empty. Only carbon scoring on the ceiling gave the sign that this place was ever the residence of a sword maker.

"I assume Akamaru will find us by smell." Karui spoke quietly, as she checked the stairway leading down to the basement.

"Yeah. He knows better how to stay out of sight than I do. A quick henge into a smaller type of dog and he can blend into any city in moments."

"I thought ninken required a shinobi to perform seals for henge."

"Early on they do. But after a few years of practice they can activate their own chakra channels for simple jutsu like henge." As if on cue, the sound of scratching came from the door. Opening it slightly gave Akamaru enough room to come inside. His henge of a small, brown, shaggy dog vanished as he returned to his proper form.

"How did the evacuation go?" Kiba asked Akamaru. Akamaru was still a few years away from developing his vocal chords enough to speak like humans, a fact which still bugged him. With a bark and a whine the Ninken told that most villagers were going inland to a farming community. Most of the evacuees expressed worry that after that village there are no good places to go after that.

After a moment of silent deliberation, Karui spoke. "We lay low until midnight. Then we'll sneak aboard the ships and find what information we can. It won't help us or the villagers to act without knowing what's going on."

"I knew there was something about that team from Kirigakure."

"They may very well be involved in this, but don't jump to any conclusions Kiba. If our time together has taught us anything it is that we shouldn't be too impulsive."

"Okay. What about the damage in town?" Akamaru answered that the damage was nothing too extensive because of the time of day. Starting an attack at sundown was a poor choice.

Karui went to the upper room to change into her gear while Kiba stayed downstairs. The upper room only took up half of the top story, the other part of the ceiling was open which meant one could look up and see into the room. Putting on his emergency Anbu uniform Kiba stole a glance to the upstairs bedroom at Karui and found that she was looking down at him while changing as well. Forcing himself to finish changing, Kiba waited for her to come downstairs. Her outfit was similar to what she had worn in the war. The sleeveless top and simple parted skirt was practical, and despite how it moved with her it made no sound.

She must have noticed what kiba was doing from his confused look and the turn of his ears. "Kumo came up with this fabric years ago. It's light, durable, and makes no sound when it flutters in the wind or when it brushes against anything. I realize it must seem odd, but we are proud of our tailors."

"That would explain why you had such a good time at the shop across the street..." Kiba trailed off, realizing that because of what had happened that their vacation was indefinitely postponed.

"I am looking forward to wearing that dress Kiba, but first I'm planning on getting a little bit of payback." Peeking out at the night sky, she nodded and they went out into the darkness.