Alternate POVs: Pre-Chunin Exams

-Temari of the Sands POV-

'Lucky Leaf Ninja.' The fresh green grass, the vibrant smells, the chirping of birds... It was all enviable. She understood why her father chose this course of action, but... 'Is this really right? Should we truly stab our ally in the back, just for more land?' Temari knew the answer, she did. But, she also knew the answer her father gave, and she knew the answer she was meant to give as a Shinobi. 'Why do we have to do this though? To use Gaara like this, he's come so far...' 

That - that was truly what caused her to stumble. Gaara had made great strides, yet her father still only treated him as a weapon. 'Perhaps this is Suna's fate. One stride forward, two steps back.' 

Her feet continued to move, even as she took a quick glance at Gaara - stonefaced, but not leaking bloodlust like he did in his toddler years. 'Sadly, Kankuro doesn't see what's wrong with this.' Glancing over at him, she could see a hint of excitement and bloodthirst in his eyes. 'He's taken everything wrong with father, and decided he should become like it...' she held back the sigh at the thought of her younger brother. 'I can't do anything about it - not yet at least. I just have to do my best to keep them safe, that's all that matters.' 

-Nagato-

Sitting at his desk with a bland peaceful smile on his face, Nagato slowly worked through the paperwork, before pausing. "Konan!" Looking up he'd shout out so that Konan could hear him, and a few moments later she came into his office from her own. "Yes, Nagato?"

"Why are we sending Team 32 to the Konohagakure Chunin Exams this year?" 

Konan frowned, yet confusion showed in her eyes. "That was the plan we made, is there something wrong with that?"

He let out a small sigh before with a jerk of his head towards the window he stood up and began to step towards it. A few moments later Konan joined him in overlooking their village. "My cousin is the problem. Tobi said she nearly killed him if it wasn't for the other Zetsu managing to patch together a bit of him. On top of the fact that we're still unaware from him if Black Zetsu has actually died at the hands of the Dragon, it seems Konoha - no Naruko Uzumaki knows far too much about our plans."

Konan worried on her pierced bottom lip thinking it over even as the black stud flashed in the office's light. A few moments passed before she said, "You think she's awoken the Rinnegan."

Nagato instantly shook his head. "No, it's highly unlikely. If she had - both White and Black Zetsu would be dead. An Uzumaki Jinchuriki fueling the Rinnegan's abilities - especially with what we found out about her clone training, would be within a week or two nearly as strong as me. No, I think she has awakened or created something much more troublesome - a Shinjutsu."

Confusion blatantly spread across Konan's face, "What is this Shinjutsu then Nagato?" A worried frown spread across his face, as he went to explain...

-Tayuya-

"This shitty fucking walk, this shitty fucking plan. Fat ass over here doesn't even look young enough to be a genin."

"Who did you just call fat you bit-"

"Enough." The single word was enough to snap both her and Jirobo into silence, as the 3rd member of their genin team froze in place, all three stared at their leader.

Dressed in fine Jonin Garb of a much darker and more purple variety than the other villages, Kimimaro glared at them, chakra roiling underneath his skin. Tayuya instinctively flinched, 'This fuckers chakra is even larger than Orochimaru-sama's.'  Every time she had to deal with him, especially during training she had to wonder if today would be the last day, and with how he was glaring at them... she was certainly beginning to fucking wonder again!

But, luckily, his glare softened. "You are important to Orochimaru-sama's plans. Remember your place, and you shall be rewarded. Remember, just one of you needs to get into the final rounds, that's all that matters. If you fail to do so, we will have to take far more drastic measures, and you will be heavily punished."

A shiver went down Tayuya's spine as she hurriedly nodded. "Yes Kimimaro-sama!" She could piss off Orochimaru. She could piss off Kabuto or Guren. But Kimimaro? 'Never!'

-Danzo-

His cane echoed out in the hallway of the ROOT Base. "You have the report?" Danzo did not even pause mid-step as one of his ROOT materialized next to him holding a surprisingly thin folder. "Mhm..."

He grabbed and opened it all while moving, his eyes gazing upon it. "Impressive." His tone was bland, even though he gave the praise. "Orochimaru has managed to inspire at minimum 2 Kage level Shinobi to join him, no wonder he feels like he can attack us in the current situation. Particularly if he uses that Jutsu..."

Staring at the folder of this 'Guren' the one who claimed to be the Head Shinobi and Leader of Otogakure, he was indeed slightly impressed. A young woman, not quite yet 20, and yet she was already a Kage-level Shinobi, particularly impressive considering she did not come from one of the Great Five. 'This Kekkei Genkai will be particularly annoying. The last time I had to deal with Crystal Release was in the First War, I thought we had managed to wipe them all out, she's even stronger than her old clan head...' 

Perhaps to others, it was a daunting thought. But to him? Just another day. The number of Kage-level Shinobi he had killed in his years was far greater than even Hiruzen - as was his duty as the Shadow. 'Hiruzen will be dealing with Orochimaru and his Edo Tensei. Uzumaki will have to deal with this Kaguya boy. That leaves Rasa, Pakura, and the Jinchuriki.' 

He tapped his cane slightly harder against the floor in thought. 'Dragon will have to deal with Rasa, that foolish boy who somehow managed to learn an incomplete form of our greatest power from Shukaku. As for the Jinchuriki, Might Guy will do fine until someone can help him. But who shall deal with Pakura? Choza will have to deal with the inevitable summons, while the rest of the trio will be supporting him in fighting back against any ninja nearby. Hiashi would be suicide, the Inuzuka and Aburame clan the same.' There was no frown on his face, even as he thought heavily upon the topic that had stumped him.

Minutes passed as he slowly left the base, before deciding upon his suggested course of action for his upcoming meeting with Hiruzen. 'Then Pakura will have to be dealt with by...' 

-Yagura-

"The Chunin Exams are coming in Konohagakure... let's give them a little pressure, Kumo will be doing the same, especially after their scuffle." A smirk broke out on his face at the last part, even as his subordinates rushed out of his office to relay his orders.