Yeah, so this is a lot earlier than expected, but what can I say, I got smacked with inspiration and had some free time today. Plus which I feel like I owed it to you guys for the crappiness that was last chapter (though I thank you all for your kindness is not sending me angry reviews berating me). In my research of the US rules of conduct of POWs, I was inspired to use direct quotes from the actual US Code of Conduct but modify it to make it fit the Narutoverse. So yes, there are direct quotes from the US Code of Conduct, meaning they weren't written by me. I just kind of thought it would be interesting to show Sakura struggle to remain sane in imprisonment by reflecting on her traiining in the academy.

Thank you again to those who have reviewed/alerted/favorited/read! It's nice to know that I haven't become completely irrelevant :)

As always, Naruto belongs to Kishimoto (lucky!) and the quotes are from the Code of the US Fighting Force that I pulled from Wikipedia.

I hope you like :)


POW

(Prisoner of War)

Remember what Sexy-Teacher told you? Inner Sakura coaxed. Sakura thought back to her academy days in Iruka's class. She remembered everything her sensei told her to prepare her for this moment. As she layed on the floor of her cell, blindfolded and naked except for the blood and dirt caked over bruised flesh, Sakura remembered everything Iruka taught her that day. She knew what to expect and what would be expected of her. She knew the Code of Conduct and could hear it, as if her sensei was standing in the room reading the pamphlet to her.

"As a member of the shinobi forces of Konohagakure you are protecting your village. It is your duty to oppose all enemies of Konohagakure and the Land of Fire in combat or, if a captive, in a prisoner of war compound. Your behavior is guided by the Code of Conduct, which has evolved from the heroic lives, experiences and deeds of Konoha shinobi from the Senju Clan Victory to the Third Shinobi World War."

Sakura had betrayed her village by failing to "oppose" Sasuke. She had worsened her traitor-status when she attempted to kill her shishou. But as she endured Sasori's brutality, she could feel her sins absolving. She could be redeemed if she could let her village's enemies torture her and she survived. That's why she smiled and whispered a, "Thank you," when Sasori broke every one of her fingers.

"Your obligations as a Konoha citizen and a member of the shinobi forces result from the traditional values that underlie the Konoha experience as a village. These values are best expressed in the Will of Fire, which you have sworn to uphold and defend. You would have these obligations—our village, your service and team and your fellow villagers—even if the Code of Conduct had never been formulated as a high standard of general behavior."

Sakura had made mistakes, but she was still a good kunoichi, and her status as a prisoner of war would confirm that. Isn't that what Iruka had said? "I am a Konoha kunoichi," had become her mantra as Sasori used her as a pincushion, stabbing her repeatedly with his poisoned needles.

"Just as you have a responsibility to your village under the Code of Conduct, the Hokage has an equal responsibility—to keep faith with you and stand by you as you fight for your village. If you are unfortunate enough to become a prisoner of war, you may rest assured that your Hokage will care for your dependents and will never forget you. Furthermore, the Hokage will use every practical means to contact, support and gain release for you and for all other prisoners of war."

This imprisonment would only be temporary, Iruka had ensured her and her classmates that. Her shishou would see that she was saved, and her parents would be taken care of. It didn't matter that Sakura had attempted to assassinate her Hokage, or that her parents had disowned her, she was a prisoner of war now. Everything would make itself right. Neji had promised her that they would come for her. Neji, Shikamaru, Sai, and Naruto, her four horsemen. They would deliver her from this torment, and she would be paraded like a hero. Hope sprang eternal as Sasori showed her various patches of skin he had removed from her.

"Experiences of captured Konoha shinobi reveal that to survive captivity honorably would demand from you great courage, deep dedication and high motivation. To sustain these personal values throughout captivity requires that you understand and believe strongly in our free and democratic institutions, love your village, trust in the justice of our cause, keep faithful and loyal to your fellow prisoners and hold firmly to your religious and moral beliefs in time of trial. Your courage, dedication and motivation supported by understanding, trust and fidelity will help you endure the terrors of captivity, prevail over your captors and return to your family, home and village with honor and pride."

She had love, she had faith, she had courage. Sakura had not screamed when Sasori broke her hymen with a kunai.

Iruka had required every one of his students to raise their right hands and take the oath on graduation day. As Sakura received her headband, etched with the insignia of Konoha, she had sworn, collectively with her classmates, "I am a Konoha shinobi fighting in the forces which guard my village and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense."

What about your virginity? Inner Sakura inquired.

"We have the duty at all times and under all circumstances to oppose the enemies of Konohagakure and support its interests. In training or in combat, alone or with others, while evading capture or enduring captivity, this duty belongs to each of us defending our village regardless of circumstances. I will never surrender of my own free will."

Even if they rape you? Inner Sakura interrupted

"If a taicho, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist. As an individual, I may never voluntarily surrender."

Even if they rape you? Inner Sakura pressed again.

"When isolated and no longer able to inflict casualties on the enemy, I have an obligation to evade capture and rejoin friendly forces. Only when evasion by me is impossible and further fighting would lead only to death with no significant loss to the enemy should I consider surrender."

You didn't surrender, Sakura, you were captured. Inner Sakura coaxed.

"With all reasonable means of resistance exhausted and with certain death the only alternative, capture does not imply dishonor."

Neither does rape, Sakura.

"The responsibility and authority of a taicho never extends to the surrender of a command to the enemy while the taicho has the power to fight and evade. When isolated, cut off or surrounded, a team must continue to fight until relieved or able to rejoin friendly forces through continued efforts to break out or evade the enemy."

Where was your taicho when they came for you, Sakura? Inner Sakura demanded. Where was Shikamaru?

"If I am captured I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy."

Did Sasori promise you something if you let him fuck you, Sakura? Inner Sakura asked, gently. Did you let him fuck you?

"The duty of a member of the armed forces to use all means available to resist the enemy is not lessened by the misfortune of captivity. A POW is still legally bound by the Konoha Council Code of Shinobi Justice and ethically guided by the Code of Conduct. Under provisions of the Kage Agreement, a prisoner of war is also subject to certain rules imposed by the captor village. When repatriated, a prisoner of war will not be condemned for having obeyed reasonable captor rules, such as sanitation regulations."

Why hasn't he let you shower yet, Sakura?

"The duty of a member of the armed forces to continue to resist does not mean a prisoner should engage in unreasonable harassment as a form of resistance, retaliation by captors to the detriment of that prisoner and other prisoners is frequently the primary result of such harassment."

This wasn't your fault, Sakura.

"The Kage Agreement recognizes that a POW may have the duty to attempt escape. In fact, the Kage Agreement prohibits a captor village from executing a POW simply for attempting escape. A POW must be prepared to escape whenever the opportunity presents itself. However, as a matter of conscious determination, a POW must plan to escape, try to escape and assist others to escape."

Ask me for my help, Sakura. I could do so much for you if you'd only let me take control.

"If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information or take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command. If not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them up in every way."

Let me be your taicho, Sakura. Let me help you, Sakura.

"Informing or any other action to the detriment of a fellow prisoner is despicable and is expressly forbidden. Prisoners of war must avoid helping the enemy identify fellow prisoners who may have knowledge of particular value to the enemy and who may, therefore, be made to suffer coercive interrogation."

You didn't answer their questions about me, Sakura. I'm grateful to you.

"Strong leadership and communication are essential to discipline. Discipline is the key to camp organization, resistance and even survival. Personal hygiene, camp sanitation and care of sick and wounded are imperative."

Heal yourself, Sakura. You won't be of any use if you don't stay healthy and strong.

"When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number, and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause."

Why did they want you to sign a confession about the Uchiha Massacre?

" Actions every POW should resist include making oral or written confessions and apologies, answering questionnaires, providing personal histories, creating propaganda recordings, broadcasting appeals to other prisoners of war, providing any other material readily usable for propaganda purposes, appealing for surrender or parole, furnishing self- criticisms and communicating on behalf of the enemy to the detriment of Konoha, its allies, its armed forces or other POWs. Every POW should also recognize that any confession signed or any statement made may be used by the enemy as a false evidence that the person is a "war criminal" rather than a POW. Several villages have made reservations to the Kage Agreement in which they assert that a "war criminal" conviction deprives the convicted individual of prisoner-of-war status, removes that person from protection under the Kage Agreement and revokes all rights to repatriation until a prison sentence is served."

Why do they want you to sign a confession to the Uchiha Massacre? What is Konoha's involvement? You saw something on the Old Bitch's desk didn't you? Who is really responsible for the Uchiha Massacre, Sakura?

"I will never forget that I am a Konoha shinobi, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my village free. I will trust in my God and in Konohagakure."

Let me be your God, Sakura.

"A member of the Konoha shinobi remains responsible for personal actions at all times."

This wasn't your fault, Sakura.

"A member of the armed forces who is captured has a continuing obligation to resist and to remain loyal to village, service, team and fellow prisoners."

Where are your team mates, Sakura?

"Upon repatriation, POWs can expect their actions to be reviewed, both as to circumstances of capture and conduct during detention. The purpose of such review is to recognize meritorious performance as well as to investigate possible misconduct. Each review will be conducted with due regard for the rights of the individual and consideration for the conditions of captivity; captivity of itself is not a condition of culpability."

You'll be a hero, Sakura.

"Members of the armed forces should remember that they and their dependents will be taken care of by the appropriate service and that pay and allowances, eligibility and procedures for promotion and benefits for dependents continue while the service member is detained. Service members should assure that their personal affairs and family matters (such as pay, powers of attorney, current will and provisions for family maintenance and education) are properly and currently arranged. Failure to so arrange matters can create a serious sense of guilt for a POW and place unnecessary hardship on family members."

I am your family, Sakura.

"The life of a prisoner of war is hard. Each person in this stressful situation must always sustain hope and resist enemy indoctrination. Prisoners of war standing firm and united against the enemy will support and inspire one another in surviving their ordeal and in prevailing over misfortune with honor."

You're a hero, Sakura…


Sakura was startled from her thoughts as she heard the door to her cell open. She immediately curled within herself tighter in the fetal position on the floor, not out of fear, she wasn't afraid of abusive treatment anymore, but out of an attempt at modesty. They may have broken her body, but they would never break her.

Unable to see her visitor due to the blindfold, Sakura took a deep breath before repeating the same words she had repeated when Sasori had interrogated her, "My name is Haruno Sakura. I am a Konoha Jounin, born March 28. I am a member of Team Seven—"

"I know who you are, Sakura," interrupted a voice she had thought she would never hear again.

She lifted her head off the floor and turned towards the direction of the voice in disbelief, wishing her blindfold would be removed so she could visually confirm what her ears were telling her. As if granting her wish, her visitor gently removed the blindfold, and Sakura hesitantly opened her eyes, afraid she would be wrong. Emerald green met crimson Sharingan, and before she could stop herself, she let out all of her anxiety, relief and love in one endearing suffix.

"Sasuke-kun…"


So what do ya think? Review, por favor?