After so long of being a mild ninety degrees, the sun bore down on them with a new vengeance. Wooden posts were brought inside as multiple fires sprung up, spilled water fizzled away as soon as it touched the ground, and children laid red-faced and panting in their own sweat in the upper rooms of households. Schools were cancelled as though it were a summer afternoon and not early spring.
Temari moved from shadow to shadow, more out of need then stealth. The Communications Tower was practically attached to the Central Tower but heavily guarded. She slipped past those on duty, melting in the waves of heat that rolled off the stone walls. Had they even been aware of their surroundings, they couldn't have put up an argument. She was sending that message.
The open top shifted like a mirage when she finally reached it, the bars of messenger hawk cages swaying in ribbons of searing iron. There were guards, of course, but the initial defense didn't try to stop her as she donned the leather glove and fetched Takamaru.
One man raised himself up, squinting in the shade, before reluctantly stepping over to her. "Lady Temari. You are well aware that all messages must be approved and sealed before being sent."
She continued to write, barely glancing in his direction.
"This is approved and it will be sealed momentarily." She rolled it up, the ink was dry almost before it touched the paper, and began the hand seals. In a moment, thick black lines strangled the scroll, keeping it shut tight.
The guard sighed, leaning toward her in mock defiance."My orders are to make sure that every message is approved and sealed the correct way. You have no pull over this issue, my Lady."
She jerked her head toward him, squinted eyes managing to convey her glare. "You think you can stop me, Takahino? Since when did I ever need to ask your permission?"
With one smooth movement, the hawk was launched from her arm, scroll strapped, and fast an an arrow. Takahino stared after it, displeasure prominent on his features. But it would take considerable effort to get it back now; Takamaru was that fastest. Soon enough, he became a dirty blotch in the sky and then faded away; much like Takahino's resolve. He turned, intent on halfheartedly berating the kunoichi, but she had already made her way to the steps, descending the civil way now. His shoulders slumped as he watched her go, weighing options in his head. To tell the Kazekage? To ignore the message and bring potential harm to the village? With a final grunt he followed after her, barely touching the second step before thin wire snapped, sealing the exit. He stumbled back, his shouts of alarm rousing the other guards enough to run over, and realized that they were stuck. Outside. During a heat wave. They looked at the new stone slab in muted horror. One of the guards bent down to examine it.
"This is a time-release jutsu. If it's from the basic form it will last an hour… Why'd you have to agitate her?" The other one looked over to the table, missing the glare exchanged.
"Were you trying to send a message too?" They looked over to the table, a fresh scroll resting unsealed on top. Instead of answering, the sealing expert walked over to it, lifting it carefully before finally examining the small print.
Tell this to no one.
He showed it to the others, who merely sat down and watched the stone slab; sweltering in silence.