"No way! Nope not happening! I just finished the chunin exam organization!" Alex crossed her arms and frowned at the Hokage. If anything she was going to fight his decision.

"Not this again" Shikamaru mumbled before watching the interaction between the two.

"Alex, we are low on ninjas who have enough experience to become sensei's. Your doing it end of story. Alex stared at him for a few minutes trying to think of something that would let her have at least a few days to herself but without any idea she pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed.

"Fine, I'll be one of the genin teams teacher but I will not go easy on them because just they are kids. After all I know how important it is to push yourself." Alex put her finger up as she thought before a smirk came onto her lips.

"And I want a day off first"

Alex's back was resting against a tree within the training grounds of the village with Shino sitting in front of her. They had not said a word to each other since they had sat down but there was no need for it, though it was starting to agitated Alex slightly.

"I'm going to beat Ino for telling me it was going to be warm" Alex said through her gritted teeth as she rubbed her cold arms. It didn't take Shino five seconds to remove himself from his current position and sit next to her. When she was comfortable he removed his over coat and wrapped it round her. When Alex looked up at him with a shocked expression on her face she laughed slightly and poked his cheeks.

"Thank you, Shino and this is good for you too because we can see your handsome face again!" After pulling her arms into the sleeves she rested her head against the tree although she didn't get much time to set her thoughts straight as out of the woods three young genin ran at them yelling.

"Alex sensei! Shino sensei!" They yelled in union as they came to a halt in front of them. Alex stood up quickly and looked down at her team with a smile.

"Ah there you are! I thought you'd be late, I'm glad no black cats got in your way" Before Alex could introduce the rest of their training for the day, she was interrupted by the only girl in the group.

"Sensei! Are you and Shino sensei a couple! Oh your wearing his coat! That's so cool" Yui's words made a blush rise onto her cheeks.

"No, no. It's nothing like that. I was just cold is all and Shino here is part of my squad and my friend" Alex smiled up at Shino who just nodded without a word.

Yui let out a disappointed sigh before her bright smile returned.

The truth was Alex didn't know what was going on between them. Ever since their midnight meeting Alex had been wanted to grab him and kiss him and it wasn't like there wasn't time for it but she was unsure about his side of things. She knew that they both had feelings for the other but they were both in different stages of their bond and Alex felt like she was further into it than Shino was. It wasn't as if it was a bad thing, Alex didn't mind as long as they spent time together but it was the unknown that was causing her crippling anxiety when it came to Shino.

"But enough of that! Today's training is about balance. Balance is important with both the mind and body. To improve your balance and senses we will be seeing how you three can cope with standing on and maybe even jumping from thin poles. Now, seeing as this is chakra within your legs and feet I will be able to show you how to do it. "

"Then why is Shino sensei here?!" Even the yelling of Zero was enough to make Alex pinch the bridge of her nose.

"That is because he can use his beetles to catch you if you fall. I don't want any more injuries after last week!" Alex's voice raised slightly as she glared at a blushing Zero.

Once Alex nodded, she stood up and walked over to the thin wooden poles that were sticking out of the ground. They weren't high enough to cause any major injuries but high enough to give a couple of bruises or sprains if anyone was to fall. With one swift jump she stood on the first pole without a wobble.

"Now, let me demonstrate!" Alex stood on one foot before jumping from one pole to the next with elegance and accuracy.

"wow, she's so graceful! I want to be just like her when I become a strong shinobi." Yui squealed out as she jumped up and down, her long purple hair swaying as she did.

"You can't" Shino's words were blunt as she slowly took his eyes off Alex to look at the genin.

"What you are seeing is the result of years of intense training and natural abilities from the Ohitsujiza clan." Shino quickly snapped his eyes back to Alex in case she fell but deep down he knew she wouldn't, after all this was her talent. As Alex twirled round in mid air before landing on one of the poles one footed the last of the free genin spoke for the first time.

" There's no such thing! "

" Do not make assumptions. Why? Because your sensei is from that clan and the memory is very tragic." The air went silence before Alex jumped down from the nearest pole and smirked at the team that she was in charge of.

"Now, let's see what kind of balance you three possess." Alex stated before pulled up the hood on Shino's borrow coat and stood back.

Alex face look horrified at the stumbling and falling that the two boys were doing. There was nothing graceful or even productive in their balance. Yui seemed to have the basics down but it was below average at best. When She called them back in she sat down on the grass and stared at them.

"It's clear that you have no balance or well little of it and so you will meditate for training this week." The group groaned as Alex stood up with a smirk.

"Once you have the connection between your mind and body then you will be able to have the right balance. Now go on and train. I will have to postpone another training session for us all until next week, your dismissed." When the three genin ran off, Alex kneeled down and rubbed her ankle slightly. Words didn't need to exchanged between Alex and Shino for her to know what he was thinking.

"I don't care, Shino. I missed being about to balance like that, my mother adored my dance style of balancing. I just.." Alex paused slightly to gather her thoughts and hold back the emotions.

"I just wanted to remember her and hold my clans abilities up" When Alex stood up, she blinked not realizing that Shino had moved since the last time and her head was in his chest.

"Shino-o" Alex stuttered as he wrapped his arms around her without a word. Shino was going against his own rules of not getting too close to people but her scent drove his beetles crazy and his own mind was fogging up with thoughts of her. They both stood there in silence until Alex mumbled into his chest, the tears that she had been holding back were forming in her eyes.

"Thank you" Her words caught Shino off guard and it caused him to blink a few times from behind his glasses. Why was she saying thank you? He didn't quite understand what he had done to get a thank you but to Alex having him be near her and even hold her in his arms like this was enough to make her feel loved and needed in this world.

Mother was the last one to hold me, it's been so long.