Public Execution (Seeking Collection, Seeking Follow-up Reads!)

Inabi, Yashiro, Yakumi, and Hikari, along with over ten Uchiha, stood before Qingguang in three groups.

The Hawk Faction was the smallest, with only Inabi and Hikari. The Neutral Faction had three or four members, all close confidants of Fugaku, along with Yashiro and Yakumi. The Dove Faction numbered a full ten Uchiha.

"Qingguang, we came because we saw the announcement the Police Department posted yesterday," Yakumi said, stepping forward from the crowd to face Qingguang.

The members of the Neutral Faction remained silent. They couldn't exactly say that Minister Fugaku had sent them.

As for Inabi and Hikari, they were close friends. Hikari had likely been dragged along by Inabi and looked thoroughly unwilling.

While he didn't dislike Qingguang, learning from a junior felt like a blow to his Uchiha pride, making him a little uncomfortable.

Qingguang swept his gaze over them. They varied in height and attitude, and he could clearly sense the mutual animosity between the three groups.

"Ahem, since you all intend to learn from me today, please prepare yourselves mentally."

"Today's training may be very difficult for you. Uchiha do not give up halfway and are not allowed to withdraw mid-process. Are you all sure you can persevere?"

Qingguang wore a smile, but his words had elevated the discussion to the entire "Uchiha" collective. Even the Dove Faction members could clearly understand the honor and spirit those three words represented.

Hikari, who had come with Inabi, felt provoked and immediately accepted the challenge without hesitation. "Of course. Anyone who dares to quit halfway, I'll be the first to object."

The others nodded in agreement.

Qingguang's smile widened. "Very good, full of spirit. Before we depart, let's begin with the first step."

He raised his hands, pressing his index fingers to the corners of his mouth and pulling them upward, his eyes curving slightly.

"There's still half an hour until the patrol shift change. For this half hour, you simply need to learn to make simple expressions with me."

The crowd fell silent.

Are you kidding us? Learning to smile? What use is this for patrolling?

"Qingguang, what's the use of smiling?" Yakumi asked, a little confused.

Qingguang patiently explained, "When your patrol duty is over and you return home, would you rather see your family greet you with smiles, or with stern faces?"

"Of course, smiles are better!" Yashiro quickly interjected.

"Exactly. So, we should treat everyone in the village like family, and greet them with smiles."

"Everyone who joined the Police Department is an elite among the Uchiha. Surely you can't say you can't even learn to smile?"

It is well known in psychology that there is no such thing as "male psychology" because men's psychology is like that of children.

For the Uchiha, who cared deeply about emotions, they were even easier to handle than children.

A group of people began to try, displaying what they believed to be friendly smiles.

"It's just a smile, how hard can it be?"

Hikari's right corner of his mouth pulled up too high, his eyes full of confidence, and the apple of his right cheek looked somewhat distorted.

That's not a smile!

It looks more like the sinister grin of a villain whose scheme has succeeded!

"Hikari, your expression is wrong, the most off. It should be like this!" Qingguang strode forward and directly pulled both sides of his mouth into symmetry.

Although still awkward and not quite like a good person, it was much better than the sinister grin from before.

But as soon as Qingguang let go, Hikari's right corner of his mouth uncontrollably began to twitch upward again, showing signs of reverting.

"Your right corner of the mouth is going up again, that's not right."

"Control your facial muscles, don't move!"

Hikari felt as if he were enduring some terrible humiliation.

"Isn't this a smile? I think you're toying with me!"

He immediately flew into a rage.

Qingguang put a hand to his forehead and fell silent, then pulled Hikari to the front of the group. "Do you all see this as a smile?"

Seeing his close friend's contorted expression, Inabi burst into laughter. "Hahaha, how could you, how could you laugh like a scheming villain in a play? You're killing me! Hahaha!"

Upon hearing this, the others also gradually began to stifle their laughter.

Hikari's cheeks flushed red, and he quickly retreated back to Inabi's side.

"I get it, I'll just practice more. It's just a smile, how could it possibly stump me?"

He had been the first to make bold declarations earlier. If he backed out now, wouldn't he be laughed at mercilessly?

For the next half hour, Qingguang went around and personally guided each of them.

Finally, just before patrol began, he managed to get everyone to maintain a passable "smile."

While it wasn't exactly full of goodwill, and Hikari's expression looked more like he was about to cry, at least they didn't look like villains anymore.

He divided the dozen-plus people into two teams, lining them up from shortest to tallest, with Qingguang leading the way at the front.

Then, a striking performance art piece unfolded on the streets.

Led by Qingguang, a team of Uchiha moved stiffly and unnaturally down the street, like robots.

It even caused quite a few children to burst into laughter.

"Look at that tall big brother with long hair. He's smiling so strangely, just like when my candy was stolen and I was crying."

A grid of angry lines appeared on Hikari's forehead. Just as he was about to yell at the brat.

He saw Qingguang walk over to the child, crouch down, smile at him, and gently pat his hair.

"That's right, that big brother is in a bad mood today, so could you please give him a piece of candy?"

The little boy shook his head slightly, looking a bit regretful. "I've finished my candy, I don't have any left~"

Qingguang then held his palm up in front of the little boy, wiggled it slightly, made a fist, and then opened it in front of him.

"See? Aren't there two here? How about you eat one and give one to that big brother who's about to cry?"

The little boy happily popped one into his mouth and then skipped over to Hikari, standing on tiptoe to offer the candy.

"Big brother, don't cry. Eat candy, you won't be sad if you eat candy."

Hikari was completely stunned. The anger he felt moments ago vanished completely. A sour feeling seemed to well up in his chest, melting the ice on his face. The fist he had clenched also loosened slightly.

"Thank you, little one."

He took the candy and held it in his palm.

"Hehe, you're welcome. Big brother from the Police Department needs to be happier~"

Then, he skipped and ran back into the crowd of children.

Watching his retreating figure, Hikari looked at the candy in his hand and, for some reason, let out a couple of silly laughs.

"Hehe~"

It was better when he wasn't smiling, but the moment he did, Inabi nudged him with his elbow.

"Damn it, why do you get one? Am I not gentle when I smile?"

Hikari treated the ordinary candy like a treasure and put it in his pocket.

"Who knows? Maybe I'm just more handsome."

This made everyone in the line itch with envy.

Damn it (〃＞皿＜), how did that brat get lucky!