The patrol ended quickly.
Perhaps because the line behind Qingguang was especially long during tonight's patrol, the mission went very smoothly.
There wasn't a single dispute in the area Qingguang was responsible for.
But when the group returned to the entrance of the Police Department and was about to disband,
Qingguang called everyone together, his face dark.
The smile that had been on his face all along suddenly vanished, making everyone's hearts sink.
Hadn't tonight's patrol gone well? They hadn't run into any problems at all.
So why did Qingguang look so terrifying now?
No one dared to say a word.
Gentle and kind were the traits Qingguang was known for, but few of the village's ninja knew that he was also a talented ninja with formidable abilities.
"I'm very dissatisfied with how you all acted later on today. Very dissatisfied." Qingguang's gaze swept across every face.
The heavy pressure made it hard for them to breathe.
Even Inabi, who thought he had a good relationship with Qingguang and knew him well, had never seen him wear an expression like that.
"Qingguang, your patrol should be over by now. Why is everyone still gathered here?"
It was two in the morning. Fugaku had been busy processing paperwork at the Police Department and was only just getting ready to head home.
But as soon as he stepped outside, he saw what was happening.
The moment he saw Qingguang's expression, he frowned and walked over to stand beside him, fixing the dozen or so people in the line with a piercing stare.
What had these people done to make Qingguang look like that?
"Qingguang, did they do something tonight, or what happened?"
"Go ahead and tell me. You don't have to hold back with me here."
After a long silence, Qingguang gave a bitter smile and shook his head slightly, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. "Minister Fugaku, maybe I was too strict with everyone from the start. It wasn't their fault."
Qingguang then turned to the group and bowed at a ninety-degree angle. "I'm sorry, everyone. I lost my temper with you for no reason."
But the members of the Police Department still didn't understand why Qingguang was angry.
As far as they were concerned, tonight's patrol had been the most satisfying one they'd had since joining the Police Department.
Just then, Hikari, who had been the least cooperative with Qingguang at first and had worn the stiffest smile, couldn't help asking, "Qingguang, if we did anything wrong, just tell us."
"Uchiha are men who dare to own up to their actions. No one's going to hold it against you!"
Hikari's words warmed Qingguang's heart.
"Is that what everyone thinks?"
The others remained silent, their gazes resolute. The fact that they were still standing there was the best answer they could give Qingguang.
Though they couldn't put it into words, as Uchiha with keen emotions, they could all sense that the villagers had regarded them differently tonight.
Perhaps it was the influence of Qingguang's title as the Smiling Executive Officer, but even this faint goodwill was something they had never experienced before.
It was a feeling called respect and admiration.
Watching the firm expressions on his subordinates' faces, Fugaku turned his gaze to Qingguang as well.
With everyone watching him, Qingguang finally spoke. "Everyone, during the first half of the patrol, I could feel that each of you was doing your best to show goodwill."
"But later on, thoughts of comparison and competition crept in."
"When we go out on patrol, we represent the Police Department. The responsibility we carry on our shoulders is the safety of the entire village."
"When you put on this uniform, you are no longer just yourselves. You are part of the Police Department. Don't let pride and honor blind you. Feelings of competition like that have no place in your hearts. Can you do better from now on?"
Qingguang's voice grew louder with each sentence, reaching deep into everyone's hearts and becoming a stirring anthem.
"We can!!!"
At that moment, the Police Department's members finally realized the gap between themselves and Qingguang, their Smiling Executive Officer.
They all felt deeply ashamed.
Qingguang, only Uchiha like him—only members of the Police Department like him—deserved a title like "Smiling Executive Officer."
No wonder the villagers had rallied behind and admired an officer like him of their own accord!
After everyone dispersed, Fugaku and Qingguang walked along the road at night.
"Qingguang, they've been bound by the clan's pride and honor since childhood. Even I haven't been able to make them see past it."
"If it weren't for you, who knows how much longer it would have taken them to realize this?"
Speaking to a junior only a year younger than himself, Fugaku rarely opened up about the confusion and worries he'd carried for years.
He saw hope in Qingguang—the possibility of breaking through this barrier.
"Minister Fugaku, as your subordinates, the Uchiha only need to think about keeping the patrol safe. But you have a lot more to worry about."
"The Police Department's reputation, your subordinates' wages, complaints from villagers, and pressure from the higher-ups—all of it must be suffocating."
"It's because I understand all that that I chose to join the Police Department. I'll do everything I can to share some of that burden. You've worked so hard all these years, Minister."
Qingguang spoke with such heartfelt conviction that Fugaku felt as though he'd found a kindred spirit at last.
This was exactly the person who understood him.
Someone who understood him even better than he understood himself!
"Qingguang, thank you."
"Minister Fugaku, there's no need for thanks between us."
"Everything we do is for the Uchiha and for the village."
Over the next few days, Qingguang's reputation within the Police Department grew hotter than ever.
So many members wanted to study alongside Qingguang at night that he had no choice but to limit the group size.
No more than twenty people each night. Anyone beyond that had to wait in line, and no one could sign up for a second round until everyone who had registered had taken part once.
As for the Uchiha from the first night, many members of the Police Department had already come to regard them as seniors.
They were constantly asked for guidance.
After all, Qingguang was just too busy. They had no choice but to find other ways to learn.
They didn't want anything else. They just wanted to experience what it felt like to be respected and admired by the villagers.
They wanted to improve so badly!
The members of the Police Department changed at an astonishing speed, like a virus spreading from one person to ten, then from ten to a hundred.
In just one month, every member of the Police Department had completely transformed.
Quite a few still had stiff smiles and awkward manners.
But the villagers had gotten used to it by then. They no longer thought much of it.
Word was that Yashiro had helped a female ninja from the Inuzuka Family find her lost Ninja Dog puppy, and had been spending a lot of time with her lately.
It was a happy ending for everyone.
The Police Department's transformation even reached Hiruzen Sarutobi's ears.
"Heh, I knew Qingguang had the power to change the Uchiha."
Hiruzen Sarutobi remarked with a smile.
Orochimaru wasn't surprised in the least. In fact, he thoroughly agreed. Judging by his rational standards, if not for Qingguang's Uchiha identity, he might even have thought Qingguang was the ninja best suited to become Hokage.
If someone like him became an ally, he could greatly boost Orochimaru's influence and reputation.
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