Uchiha Kō's gaze fell upon the drunken Sarutobi Ōkawa, his eyes as indifferent as ice, without the slightest ripple of emotion.
He slowly pulled a palm-sized leather manual from his chest pocket and flipped it open; the crisp sound of paper rubbing was exceptionally clear in the silent tavern.
"Sarutobi Ōkawa." Uchiha Kō's voice was calm and steady, yet carried the unquestionable authority of law enforcement. "According to Article 752 of the New Konoha Penal Code: those who cause trouble while intoxicated, disturb public security, and damage the property of others shall be punished with seven days of detention, a fine of fifty thousand taels, and full compensation for economic losses. Now, come with us."
"Bah!" Sarutobi Ōkawa lifted his head with bleary, drunken eyes. Seeing that the newcomer was a member of the Uchiha clan, an expression of disdain appeared on his face, and he spat. "What kind of thing do you think you are? Just a biting dog kept by the Uchiha! You dare try to manage my business?
Do you know who I am? I am of the Sarutobi Clan! A clansman of the Sandaime Hokage!"
As he clamored, he reached out to shove Uchiha Kō, foul language pouring out of his mouth incessantly: "Get the hell out of here! Or I'll make sure you regret this! You Uchiha trash..."
Slap!
A crisp and ear-piercing loud crack interrupted Sarutobi Ōkawa's insults.
Uchiha Kō's eyes turned cold, and the baton in his hand whipped out like lightning, striking Sarutobi Ōkawa's mouth without mercy.
The black baton carried a sharp wind; the force was so great that it sent Sarutobi Ōkawa spinning in place. A mouthful of teeth mixed with blood sprayed out, splashing into the rice wine on the floor—a shocking sight.
"Ah—!"
Sarutobi Ōkawa let out a shrill scream, clutching his mouth and stumbling back. Blood flowed uncontrollably from the corners of his mouth, and the arrogance in his eyes was instantly replaced by pain and terror.
His mouth was severely deformed from the baton strike, most of his teeth were gone, and he couldn't even utter a complete sentence, only able to make muffled, indistinct whimpers.
Before he could catch his breath, another Guard Member stepped forward. His baton was raised high and, with a whistling sound, it smashed ruthlessly into Sarutobi Ōkawa's left leg.
Crack!
The clear sound of a bone snapping rang out. Sarutobi Ōkawa's left leg bent at a bizarre angle. The intense pain made his vision go dark, and he nearly fainted. He collapsed to the ground, body curled into a ball, dense beads of cold sweat breaking out on his forehead, his eyes filled with dread.
The third Guard Member did not hesitate for a second. With a swing of his baton, he struck heavily against the back of Sarutobi Ōkawa's head.
Sarutobi Ōkawa let out a muffled groan, his head spun, and his strength to struggle vanished instantly.
This clean, decisive, and ruthless enforcement action by Uchiha Kō's trio was not a spur-of-the-moment decision. It was the "Three Batons of Law"—a standard procedure specifically designed by Uchiha Natsume for the Military Police Force to deter the unruly and ensure efficient enforcement.
Every detail of this Move condensed Xia Yin's understanding of the essence of law enforcement. During training for the Military Police Force, he had personally demonstrated and repeatedly emphasized it, requiring every member to practice until they reached perfection, achieving the standard of "every strike is textbook, every swing is effective."
"The first principle of law enforcement is to control the situation." Xia Yin had stood on the training ground at the time, holding the same model of black baton as the Military Police Force. His crimson Mangekyo Sharingan swept over the three hundred-plus members, his tone serious to the extreme. "When facing violators who refuse to cooperate and speak arrogantly, the first thing you must do is not to reason with them, but to make them lose the capital for their arrogance."
The baton in his hand rose slightly, pointing at a wooden post ahead: "The first baton: strike the mouth."
"This strike must precisely hit the opponent's mouth or jaw. The force must be sufficient to shatter teeth and shock the jawbone, instantly stripping them of their ability to speak—preventing them from continuing to insult law enforcement and from crying out for mercy."
Xia Yin's baton swung out suddenly. With a loud crack, a gap instantly split open in the wooden post. "Law enforcement is not a charitable act of mercy. Being soft-hearted toward the wicked is cruelty toward the law-abiding. Shutting his mouth is the only way to make him soberly realize who the rule-maker is here."
The members held their breath, looking at the baton in Xia Yin's hand with eyes full of awe.
"The second baton: strike the leg." Xia Yin's baton rose again, pointing at the base of the wooden post. "This strike should aim for the shinbone or the knee joint. The force must be controlled within the range of 'fractured but not crippled'—"
"It must instantly deprive him of mobility, preventing escape or resistance, while leaving him alive to face subsequent legal sanctions, serving as a proper deterrent."
With a crisp snap, the base of the wooden post broke and crashed to the ground.
Xia Yin withdrew the baton, his tone remaining cold: "Escape is the instinct of a violator. Cutting off his retreat ensures the enforcement process is not interrupted.
Remember, you are law enforcers, not hunters, but you must possess the precise judgment and execution of a hunter."
"The third baton: strike the head." This time, Xia Yin's baton stopped in mid-air, his gaze as sharp as a blade. "This strike should land on the back of the head or the back of the neck. The force must be just right—"
"It must plunge him into a brief state of dizziness, completely stripping him of the consciousness to resist, yet it must not cause fatal injury, avoiding the disruption of subsequent interrogation and punishment procedures."
He paused and added: "Resistance is the greatest obstacle in the enforcement process. Crushing his will to resist ensures the smooth progress of the law. This strike is the final warning to the violator and the final defense of the law's dignity."
Three demonstrations, three explanations. Every movement was precise to the millimeter, every word carried weight.
Xia Yin tossed the baton to a member beside him, his tone carrying an unquestionable requirement: "These three strikes must achieve precise angles, moderate force, and significant effects.
Swinging the baton requires an angle to avoid vital spots while still achieving the goal; acting requires force to eliminate weak strikes that fail to deter; and law enforcement requires warmth—"
When he spoke the word "warmth," the corners of Xia Yin's mouth curled into a cold arc, making the members present feel a chill throughout their bodies. "This warmth is not mercy for the violator, but protection for the law-abiding citizens of Konoha, and a commitment to fairness and justice.
Every time you swing your baton, you are purging pests for Konoha and fighting for the dignity of our clansmen.
Only by making violators pay a painful price can law-abiding citizens live in peace."
It was under the infusion of such philosophy that the "Three Batons of Law" became the standard enforcement procedure for the Konoha Military Police Force.
Every member practiced this set of Moves until they knew it inside out, acting without hesitation, precise and ruthless...
Advance chapter available on pãtrêon Got1808