Chapter 2 – The Value of Training

"You mean you're the only on who answered the offer?" asked Sasuke as he carefully bandaged Sakon's ankle.

"That's what they said. Now I know why…" sighed Sakon wincing a bit as Sasuke applied some antiseptic on his wound.

"You obviously haven't heard a lot the old guy…" answered Sasuke as he placed a bandage on Sakon's wound. "There all fixed." said Sasuke as he lifted his shirt and started working on his own injuries. "You're pretty young to be a tactician." teased Sasuke.

"Young? I'll have you know that I finished my studies at 12!" pouted Sakon.

"Got any battle experience?" replied Sasuke.

"Um… Well… No." sulked Sakon.

"It's not about how much you've studied kid. It all comes down to how well you know warfare." said Sasuke as he poured some sake in his wound. "Oww… Shit that stings…" cursed Sasuke.

Sakon suddenly felt the ground tremble. He observed the area to see its cause and he spotted Shingen, carrying Yukimura by his hair.

"TOO WEAK! 30 LAPS ACROSS THE CAMP!" ordered Shingen to Yukimura. He let go of Yukimura, dropping his face to the floor. The younger man picked himself up and started on his laps. "YOU! You're my apprentice right?!" pointed Shingen to Sakon.

"Y-Yes!" said Sakon as he stood up and quickly approached Shingen.

"Hmm… Such scrawny arms…" muttered Shingen as he lifted Sakon from the ground by an arm.

"Owww… hey! That hurts!" complained Sakon, struggling against Shingen's grip. Shingen let go of Sakon causing him to drop on his bottom.

"A month or two and you'll be as strong and buffed as your master! LET THE TRAINING BEGIN!!" laughed Shingen.

"T-Training? Don't you mean studying?" smiled Sakon sheepishly.

"Hmm? WHO'S THE TEACHER HERE?!" yelled Shingen.

"Y-You are??" answered Sakon meekly.

"Good… Now drop and give me 50 push ups!!" ordered Shingen.

Sakon quickly lied to the floor and got started on his push ups.

"48… 49… 50…" huffed Sakon as he went into a kneeling position, panting heavily.

"Good… Now give me 50 more with this on your back!" shouted Shingen as he signaled something to Sasuke. Sasuke went inside one of the tents and came out with four heavy concrete blocks.

"Wha?! Are you crazy! I'll get crushed by those!" protested Sakon.

"Fine… One at a time then…" answered Shingen.

Sakon went back to his laying position as Sasuke placed a block on his back.

"Argh… This thing weighs a ton." complained Sakon.

"Now you know why no one else accepted the offer…" smiled Sasuke.

Later that day

Sakon lied on the ground. His body drenched in sweat and his face covered in dirt. His breathing was heavy and rapid.

"You aren't finished yet!! 10 more to go!!" yelled Shingen. Sakon didn't respond nor make any movement.

"I think he passed out…" said Sasuke, poking Sakon's head.

"Fine. We'll just add those 10 to his load tomorrow…" said Shingen as he walked away from the two and back to his tent.

"You took quite a punishment today kid. Let's get you cleaned up for dinner." smiled Sasuke. He picked up Sakon and carried him towards the bath house. Sakon finally regained consciousness in Sasuke's arms.

"H-hey where are we going?" asked Sakon, his eyes still heavy from exhaustion.

"You're going to take a bath. Lord Shingen doesn't like people who smell like sweat in dinner." chuckled Sasuke.

"Okay. Put me down, I think I can walk…" said Sakon. Sasuke set Sakon down gently. Sakon took a shaky first step but eventually fell on his knees. Sasuke picked him up once again. "J-Just give me a minute…" huffed Sakon.

"No worries. I'm taking a bath too anyways…" said Sasuke. They arrived at the camp's bath house. It was relatively simple. The walls were made of bamboo while a large hot spring was in the middle of the structure. "That old biddy was lucky to find this place. It had a hot spring for soldiers to relax." smiled Sasuke.

He sat Sakon down to a corner and disrobed. He gently went down to the warm water and sat down.

"Get in if you're ready…" smiled Sasuke.

Sakon shakily stood up and attempted to undress but he fell flat on the floor instead.

"Wow! You're really worn out aren't you." blinked Sasuke. He went out of the water and helped Sakon undress. "You're lucky kid. My first day here in the Takeda camp wasn't so easy. That old man made me hike on a mountain while dragging a fully loaded carriage." laughed Sasuke.

"Th-Thanks Sasuke… for helping me." uttered Sakon under his breath.

"Heh, it's nothing! We're practically brothers now!" patted Sasuke on Sakon's back, causing the child to fall on his face again. "Oops…"

"Yeah… I'm really feeling the love." groaned Sakon sarcastically.

Sakon slowly crawled to the hot spring, taking a seat on one of the rocks. He breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

"Ahh… I can stay here for days…" smiled Sakon.

Sasuke joined Sakon, taking a small pail with him. He scooped some of the warm water and poured it above his head.

"We better hurry up unless we plan on missing dinner." said Sasuke.

Sakon nodded and began scrubbing his body with a towel. He removed the dirt stains on his face as well as those in his arms.

"Hey, want me to scrub your back?" offered Sasuke.

"Sure… I guess…" nodded Sakon. He turned around and Sasuke approached him. He soaked a towel in the water and began scrubbing Sakon's back.

"You know, you remind me of someone kid. Just can't put my finger on it…" smiled Sakon. He finished scrubbing Sakon and washed his back by drenching it with his pail. "There, all clean." smiled Sasuke. He stood up and emerged from the spring. He wrapped a towel around his waist. "I'll be waiting for you outside, kay?" reminded Sasuke.

"Sasuke… is that why you're so nice to me?" asked Sakon, a serious look in his face.

"Maybe… I don't know. I guess that's the downside of not having siblings…" smiled Sasuke.

Sakon sank into the water until it was below his nose. After a while, he stood up and grabbed his clothes.

"Maybe huh?" frowned Sakon.

Read and Review please. Be posting more chappies soon.