The Show of Force!

The young people nearby drew sharp breaths. Their eyes swept over the eight black-and-red Water-and-Fire Staffs, then darted away.

They were frightened—and excited.

Tsunade's mouth twitched again when she heard that.

Jiraiya's expression turned lecherous. He muttered, "If the prisoner's a pretty woman, they should beat her in public. Pull down her pants and beat her!"

Tsunade rolled her eyes at him, utterly speechless and thoroughly disgusted.

Uchiha Yongye walked toward the magistrate's desk.

The murmurs in the crowd died down.

Yongye reached the desk, turned, and sat in the chair.

The chair was new too, with a broad backrest, a thick cushion, and simple patterns carved into its armrests.

When he sat down, its four legs stood firm on the floor without so much as a wobble.

Yongye raised his right hand and picked up the Gavel.

It was made of Rosewood, heavy and smooth in his hand. He turned it over and examined the bottom. A ring of fine Gunbai patterns was carved around its edge.

Then he raised his hand.

The Gavel traced an arc through the air and slammed down.

Crack!

The sharp report sounded like a firecracker exploding in the hall!

The Rosewood striking the desk echoed through the spacious hall, bouncing off the walls, the ceiling, and the floor tiles until the sounds overlapped.

The eight Security Force officers on either side raised their Water-and-Fire Staffs at the same time.

The eight black staffs lifted from the floor, their ends rising as their tips pointed toward the ceiling. They paused in midair, then came down together.

Their ends struck the stone floor with eight heavy thuds!

The eight thuds merged into one booming impact that burst through the hall and made the scalps of the people at the entrance tingle!

The next instant, all