Inabi, Yashiro, Yakumi, Hikari, and more than a dozen other Uchiha stood before Qingguang in three separate groups.
The Hawk Faction had the fewest members, with only Inabi and Hikari. Three or four members of the Neutral Faction had come, all of them Fugaku's trusted men, while the Dove Faction had a full ten Uchiha, including Yashiro and Yakumi.
"Qingguang, we came after seeing the notice the Police Department posted yesterday," Yakumi said as he stepped out from the crowd and approached Qingguang.
The few members of the Neutral Faction said nothing. They couldn't exactly admit Minister Fugaku had sent them.
As for Inabi and Hikari, they were close friends. Hikari had probably been dragged over by Inabi, judging by his thoroughly reluctant expression.
He didn't dislike Qingguang, but learning from a younger brother was still a blow to his Uchiha pride, and it made him a little uncomfortable.
Qingguang's gaze swept over them. They varied in height and attitude, and it was obvious that the three groups were at odds with one another.
"Ahem. Since you're all planning to learn from me today, I hope you're mentally prepared."
"Today's training may be very tough for you. Uchiha don't give up halfway, and no one's allowed to quit. Are you all sure you can stick with it?"
Although Qingguang wore a smile, his words had now invoked the Uchiha as a whole. Even the Dove Faction members understood the honor and resolve those three words represented.
Hikari, who had come with Inabi, felt as if he'd been challenged. Without a moment's hesitation, he answered, "Of course. If anyone dares to quit halfway, I'll be the first to stop them."
The others silently nodded in agreement.
Qingguang's smile grew wider. "Good. That's the spirit. Before we set off, we'll start with the first step."
He raised both hands, pressed his index fingers to the corners of his mouth, and lifted them. His eyes curved slightly.
"We have half an hour before the patrol shift changes. For that half hour, all you need to do is learn some simple expressions from me."
Everyone fell silent.
Are you joking? Learn to smile? What does that have to do with patrolling?
"Qingguang, what's the point of smiling?" Yakumi asked, perplexed.
Qingguang patiently explained, "When your patrol is over and you get home, would you rather see your family welcome you back with a smile, or with a scowl?"
"Of course it's better to be welcomed with a smile," Yashiro promptly answered from beside him.
"Exactly. So we should treat everyone in the village like family and greet them with a smile."
"Everyone here is one of the Uchiha elite, worthy of joining the Police Department. Surely you can all manage to learn how to smile?"
It was common knowledge that psychology had no such thing as men's psychology, because men's minds were just like children's.
For the Uchiha, who cared deeply about emotions, they were even easier to handle than children.
One by one, they got to work, putting on what they considered friendly smiles.
"It's just a smile. How hard can it be?"
Hikari's right lip curled too high, his eyes brimming with confidence as the apple of his right cheek twisted awkwardly.
How was that a smile?
It was clearly the sinister smirk of a villain whose scheme had just succeeded!
"Hikari, your expression is wrong. Yours is the most wildly off the mark. It should be like this!" Qingguang strode over and adjusted both corners of his mouth until they were symmetrical.
It still looked awful, and he didn't exactly look like a good guy, but it was much better than that sinister smirk.
But the moment Qingguang let go, Hikari's right lip began to curl upward again, as if it were slipping back into place.
"Your right lip's going up again. That's not right."
"Control your facial muscles. Don't move!"
Hikari felt as if he were enduring some terrible humiliation.
"How is this not a smile? I think you're making fun of me!"
He flew into a rage.
Qingguang put a hand to his forehead and sighed. Then he pulled Hikari in front of the others. "Take a look. Is this a smile?"
Seeing his close friend's twisted grin, Inabi burst out laughing. "Hahaha! Why do you look like a schemer in a play? That's hilarious! Hahaha!"
After hearing that, the others gradually started struggling to hold back their laughter.
Hikari's cheeks flushed red-hot, and he hurried back to Inabi's side.
"I get it. I'll practice more. It's just a smile. How could something so trivial stump me?"
He'd been the first to make a bold declaration. If he quit now, everyone would laugh at him.
For the next half hour, Qingguang went around giving everyone individual pointers.
At last, just before the patrol began, they managed to keep something resembling smiles on their faces.
Although they didn't look particularly friendly, and Hikari's expression was practically identical to a crying face, at least they no longer looked like villains.
Qingguang split the dozen or so people into two groups, arranged them in lines from shortest to tallest, then led the way at the front.
And so, the street was treated to a spectacle that drew plenty of attention.
Led by Qingguang, a line of Uchiha moved stiffly and awkwardly down the street, like robots.
They even made quite a few children burst out laughing.
"Look at that big brother with long hair! His smile is so weird. He looks just like me when I cry because someone took my candy."
A vein popped on Hikari's forehead. He was about to yell at the little brat when he saw Qingguang walk over to the child and crouch down. Smiling at him, he gently patted the child's head.
"That's right. That big brother's in a bad mood today. Could you give him a piece of candy?"
The little boy shook his head, looking a little regretful. "I ate all my candy. I don't have any left~"
Qingguang held his palm up in front of the boy, gave it a little wave, closed his hand into a fist, then opened it in front of him.
"Look, there are two right here. How about you eat one and give the other to that big brother who looks like he's about to cry?"
The little boy happily popped one into his mouth, then scampered over to Hikari and stretched up on his tiptoes to offer him the candy.
"Don't cry, big brother. Have some candy. You won't feel sad after you eat it."
Hikari froze. All the anger he'd felt just moments ago vanished. A rush of emotion seemed to well up in his heart, melting the ice on his face, and his clenched fist loosened slightly.
"Thank you, little guy."
He took the candy and held it in his palm.
"Hehe, you're welcome! The big brother from the Police Department should remember to cheer up~"
Then the boy bounded off toward the crowd of children gathered nearby.
Watching him go, Hikari looked down at the candy in his hand and, for some reason, gave a silly little laugh.
"Hehe~"
He would've been better off not smiling, but the moment he did, Inabi elbowed him.
"Damn it, why did you get one? Wasn't my smile gentle enough?"
Hikari treated the ordinary piece of candy like a priceless treasure and put it in his pocket.
"Who knows? Maybe I'm just more handsome."
The whole line was practically itching with envy.
Damn it, why did that guy get so lucky?!
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