Uehara Naraku first accepted Kakashi's gift.
Because regarding whether he could cure Rock Lee or not, Uehara Naraku himself wasn't confident. He was a ruthless medical ninja who only knew how to infuse life energy.
When they arrived at Konoha Hospital, Uehara Naraku looked at Rock Lee on the hospital bed and furrowed his brows, saying in a deep voice, "I can only guarantee to save his life. If there's any aftereffect, I can't confirm it for now."
The aftereffects of the Eight Gates state act internally on the body, which isn't something simple treatments can solve; surgery is necessary.
But what does Uehara Naraku understand about surgery!
However, if he really wanted to cure Rock Lee, Uehara Naraku did have a way.
Just put Lee under a time reversal, then slice him up once; maybe he'd be fully restored when he resurrected.
Obviously, this treatment method can't be used now.
If it was just to complete the mission, maybe he could sneak in to try it secretly; if it succeeded, the credit would have to go to himself as the one currently treating Lee.
After all, Uehara Naraku saved a genius Taijutsu ninja of Konoha.
Not to mention, asking Might Guy to spar with him in normal state, Six Gates: View Gate state, Seven Gates: Wonder Gate state, and Eight Gates: Death Gate state wouldn't be too much, right?
These are four tasks!
Uehara Naraku thought of this and looked seriously at Hatake Kakashi and said, "Alright, I'll first try to use medical ninjutsu to temporarily restore his vitality. I'll come back to check the results tomorrow..."
"Understood."
Hatake Kakashi nodded, patted the dejected Might Guy, and sighed, "Guy, the burden of the Eight Gates is too great. Actually, just being able to save Lee's life is already a very good result."
"Got it."
Might Guy nodded dejectedly and squatted to the side.
As one of the few Konoha ninjas who specialized in Taijutsu, Might Guy had deep feelings for Rock Lee, who shared the same aspirations, almost viewing him as his own child.
He wasn't feeling good now.
Uehara Naraku raised an eyebrow, glanced at Hatake Kakashi who was still standing by his side, and understood that this guy didn't trust his skills and wanted to monitor his every move while treating Lee, maybe even wanted to use his Sharingan to secretly learn.
Doesn't Kakashi ever learn?
Uehara Naraku tossed Make-Out Paradise from his ninja pouch to Hatake Kakashi and whispered, "Since you're free, could you read the contents of the book for me?"
"Wha... what?"
Hatake Kakashi widened his eyes, holding Make-Out Paradise in his arms, looking at Uehara Naraku with eyes full of confusion.
One ordinary eye, one red Sharingan.
Both of Kakashi's eyes seemed to be asking Uehara Naraku, are you out of your mind? Who reads Make-Out Paradise out loud in public!
Just reading Make-Out Paradise makes ordinary people blush, who would be shameless enough to read it out loud!
What the hell is this!
Uehara Naraku gave him a serious look and whispered, "This is a request from a medical ninja, is there a problem?"
Hatake Kakashi: "..."
What kind of bizarre request is this!
No medical ninja would make such a request, Uehara Naraku is clearly trying to humiliate him.
Uehara Naraku's eyes were very determined.
Originally, he didn't plan to complete a certain mission, but since Hatake Kakashi volunteered himself, wouldn't it be a waste to let him go?
Side Mission: Listen to Hatake Kakashi read Make-Out Paradise once (0/1), mission not completed, reward unknown.
Hatake Kakashi slightly regretted his intent to monitor Uehara Naraku. What's there to tamper with while he's still in Konoha during Lee's treatment?
Even if his medical ninjutsu is out of the ordinary, is it something ordinary people can learn?
Back in the Land of Water, trying to replicate that large-scale Lighting Release Ninjutsu nearly cost him his life at the hands of Terumi Mei; isn't that lesson deep enough?
Might Guy sensed the tense atmosphere between the two, and looked pleadingly at his friend, "Kakashi..."
"I'll read!"
Hatake Kakashi steeled himself, bit his lip, opened the book, and a blush immediately spread across his face as he stammered, "Her... her toes dripped water... slowly moving over my body... breath... lips... mixed with moans..."
Hatake Kakashi read, blushing deeply.
Uehara Naraku listened, his face also turning red, and finally placed his hand on Lee's forehead, infusing some of his life energy and chakra energy into Lee's body through Star Infusion.
"Haah..."
Rock Lee lay on the bed, releasing a satisfied moan.
Since exiting the Eight Gates: Limit Gate state, Rock Lee had never felt this comfortable, the pure and immense life energy entering his body, quickly repairing his external injuries and restoring his vitality.
This treatment only served to save his life.
To truly heal Rock Lee and allow him to continue as a ninja, surgery on his internal skeleton is necessary.
Uehara Naraku endured, listening impatiently to Hatake Kakashi finish reading Make-Out Paradise before announcing the end of his treatment.
"Alright, let's see how it is tomorrow!"
"..."
Hatake Kakashi, upon hearing this, immediately wanted to put the book away.
Uehara Naraku slowly extended his hand, "Kakashi, give me back my book, it's mine now."
"..."
Hatake Kakashi's eyes suddenly flashed with a trace of reluctance as he gritted his teeth and handed two copies of "Make-Out Paradise" to Uehara Naraku, for these were gifts from Lord Jiraiya for his eighteenth birthday!
Uehara Naraku, with a smile on his face, was about to accept them.
The next moment, an Ice Thousand Needles suddenly pierced through the set of "Make-Out Paradise," pinning them instantly to the wall!
Haku's figure instantaneously appeared by the wall, his hand brushing over the two copies of "Make-Out Paradise," turning them into a string of ice fragments. He said in a deep voice, "Uehara, the master has instructed me strictly not to allow you to touch the Ninja World's three prohibitions and such vulgar novels."
"…"
The smile on Uehara Naraku's face immediately froze.
After all these years of interaction, Haku and Kaguya Kimimaro not only didn't choose to become his subordinates, but instead became spies placed beside him by Teacher Konan.
Even Hattori Heikawa didn't dare to buy books for him, afraid of causing trouble.
It's really frustrating!
As someone determined to become the mastermind behind the Ninja World, Uehara had always been the one to place spies beside others. When did it become others placing spies beside him!
Unfortunately, the person who planted the spy was one he dared not provoke.
Fortunately, Uehara Naraku once acquired this set of books.
Side quest: Own a set of "Make-Out Paradise" (1/1), task completed, reward 300 gold coins.
Side quest: Listen to Hatake Kakashi recite "Make-Out Paradise" once (1/1), task completed, reward passive skill: Enlightenment.
Enlightenment: Grants an additional 270 life energy.
This task actually rewarded basic attributes!
Basic attributes have always been what Uehara Naraku valued most, and he never expected that just by having Kakashi recite "Make-Out Paradise," he would gain over 200 life energy points.
Uehara Naraku's gaze slowly turned towards Hatake Kakashi. As the protagonist of the Ninja World's Seventh Class, everyone there is truly a treasure!
All you need to do is dig, and you'll definitely find treasure!
Deep night.
The moon was perfectly round.
A figure quietly emerged from the floor beside the hospital bed, slowly standing next to Rock Lee, placing a Chakra Light Spiral over him.
Time Reversal!
Immediately after, the figure twisted Rock Lee's neck!
Moments later, Rock Lee was resurrected.
Just as Rock Lee was waking up, a pair of hands suddenly pressed on his head, and two clumps of blue chakra entered his brain. Endless fear emerged in Rock Lee's mind as he experienced the most terrifying nightmare of his life.
The next day, early morning.
Uehara Naraku arrived at the hospital early. After observing Rock Lee's condition, he used Star Infusion on him once more, gently asking, "How do you feel?"
"It feels like I had a really frightening nightmare last night…"
Large beads of cold sweat dripped from Rock Lee's forehead as he said in a deep voice, "That nightmare was something I had experienced before. Oh, and my neck felt like it was twisted, but I woke up drenched in sweat with no physical anomalies, feeling like my youth could burn again!"
"Then congratulations on your recovery."
Uehara Naraku patted his shoulder.
The treatment plan using Time Reversal was quite successful this time.
Based on the data collected, Uehara Naraku could consider planning a treatment for Nagato. After all, Star Infusion only addresses the symptoms, not the root cause.
The only problem is, after treating Nagato, it's unclear if the Rinnegan will no longer exist since it doesn't belong to him.
Uehara Naraku stayed to chat with Rock Lee for a while, turning last night's event completely into a nightmare, until Might Guy and Hatake Kakashi arrived.
Apart from them, all the members of the Konoha 12 were present.
Upon learning it was Uehara Naraku who treated Rock Lee, Uzumaki Naruto boasted to his classmates, "I told you, Senior Uehara is a good person!"
"Hmm."
Hyuga Neji walked up to Uehara Naraku, gratefully bowing towards him, "Thank you, Senior, for saving Lee! Whatever you need, we are willing to do our utmost to help."
"That's right, Neji!"
Might Guy walked over, patting Hyuga Neji on the shoulder with a hearty laugh, "In the face of our teammate's savior, that's the attitude we should have! Uehara Naraku, if you ever encounter trouble in Konoha, the Azure Beast and Azure Beast of Konoha will do anything to help!"
Curing Rock Lee's injuries brought quite some benefits.
Apart from the gratitude from Team Three, the other Konoha Ninja also regarded Uehara Naraku with much more reverence, earning him many goodwill cards.
A Medical Ninja with exquisite skills is always respected, just like Tsunade, who travels around the Ninja World without any Ninja Village daring to offend her lightly.
Respecting Medical Ninja is the thought that Tsunade spread throughout the Ninja World.
And Tsunade herself became the biggest beneficiary of this thought.
However, Uehara Naraku didn't use Team Three's promise. It was just talk.
What is the most precious favor?
A favor you never utilize, allowing the person to always feel grateful.
Uehara Naraku casually joked with Might Guy, agreeing that before the Chunin Examination finals start, they'd find a chance to spar in Taijutsu.
There is still a month before the Chunin Examination finals.
During this time, Uehara Naraku has many things to do, and while in Konoha wearing the façade of a good person, he naturally has to do things totally uncharacteristic of one.