While Team 7 was conducting the Survival Exercise, Hiruzen Sarutobi was looking at Ge Liang's profile.
"Hmm, judging from the profile, there's nothing wrong with this young man named Ge Liang."
Hiruzen Sarutobi, just looking at the intelligence gathered by the Anbu, naturally couldn't find anything special.
After all, Ge Liang was a man with a System. When he Transmigrated, the System had already perfectly fabricated Ge Liang's background and resume.
Starting from his grandparents' generation, Ge Liang's family had settled in Konoha. His parents died during the Nine-Tailed Fox Attack twelve years ago. Konoha gave Ge Liang a certain amount of compensation, which, combined with his family's savings, allowed Ge Liang to open a rather peculiar shop.
From household registration to behavioral logic, everything was well-founded and convincing.
"Just looking at the files won't reveal anything. I need to see for myself."
Hiruzen Sarutobi put away Ge Liang's profile, tidied up slightly, and then left the Hokage Office, walking toward Ge Liang's Internet Cafe... When Ge Liang saw the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, wearing the Hokage Robes, he knew trouble had arrived.
"Hokage-sama, welcome."
Ge Liang stood up from his chair and gave the Third Hokage an indifferent welcome.
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't mind Ge Liang's attitude. After all, Konoha had failed to protect his family, so in his view, it was understandable for Ge Liang to have some minor grievances against him, the Hokage.
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled slightly and said, "Young man, your name is Ge Liang, correct?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
"I heard that your business here has been quite good recently."
Quite good?
Ge Liang's mouth twitched. You probably misunderstood the meaning of the word 'good.'
Instead of answering Hiruzen Sarutobi, he ushered him into the Internet Cafe, then pointed at the empty establishment. Ge Liang said expressionlessly, "Hokage-sama, you call this good business?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a bit awkward entering the Internet Cafe. He hadn't expected Ge Liang to be so direct.
Do I have absolutely no Face in his eyes?
I am the Hokage of Konoha Village, after all.
Don't I deserve some Face?
Fortunately, Hiruzen Sarutobi remembered why he was here. After an awkward chuckle, he continued to probe Ge Liang.
"Ge Liang, you know children like Shikamaru, Ino, and Naruto, right? Their recent changes have been quite significant. Do you know what caused such a major transformation?"
"Naturally, I am aware of their changes."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was slightly surprised by Ge Liang's reply.
He didn't expect Ge Liang to admit it so directly. He thought Ge Liang would beat around the bush or play dumb.
However, since Ge Liang admitted it, things would be easier.
"In that case, can you tell me the reason?"
"Of course."
In fact, even before Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived, Ge Liang had already anticipated that something like this would happen today.
So he had devised many potential plans.
Should he flat-out deny it, or stand his ground to the end? Or perhaps run away and move?
Ge Liang immediately abandoned the options of flat-out denial and running away/moving.
What use would flat-out denial be? Hiruzen Sarutobi is the Hokage. As long as he seriously investigates, it wouldn't be hard to discover the Internet Cafe's miraculous nature.
As for running away?
Since its opening, this Internet Cafe has been rooted here. Wanting to move to another Village and reopen? That's simply impossible.
Therefore, although it seemed like there were several paths to choose from, Ge Liang only had one path: stand his ground to the end.
Regardless of whether you are Hiruzen Sarutobi or Hashirama Senju, once you enter the Internet Cafe, your life and death are no longer under your own control.
Inside the Internet Cafe, Ge Liang is a god. If he wants someone to die, they must die. If he wants someone to live, it would be difficult for others to kill them.
"Since Hokage-sama has doubts, merely listening to me certainly won't be clear enough. Wouldn't trying it out for yourself make everything clear?"
"Oh? How do I try it?"
Ge Liang's sensible attitude made Hiruzen Sarutobi very satisfied. He had already decided that as long as this place didn't pose a significant threat to Konoha, Ge Liang could continue running his Internet Cafe here.
Of course, if this place held anything that could endanger Konoha, then Ge Liang naturally had no reason to exist.
The Third Hokage was not the kindly old grandfather he appeared to be in the original work, but a Shinobi Hero whose hands were stained with blood.
If the threat wasn't significant, perhaps he could let someone off the hook, but if there was anything that could endanger Konoha, he would not be soft-hearted.
"If Hokage-sama wishes to try, hmm, the price is Ten Thousand Ryo per hour."
"Hmm... here is Ten Thousand Ryo."
You dare to charge me, the Hokage?
Forget it, I'll just have him Humanely Destroyed later.
Ge Liang wasn't aware of Hiruzen Sarutobi's internal thoughts, but even if he knew, he wouldn't care.
At worst, I just won't leave the Internet Cafe for the rest of my life. Let's see who can outlast whom.
Soon, Orochimaru should be coming to Konoha to 'Deliver Warmth.'
During this 'Delivery of Warmth' operation, Hiruzen Sarutobi was directly warmed up by Orochimaru, kicked the bucket, and left the world.
Then, after a while, Fifth Hokage Tsunade would take over. Given her personality, plus the persuasion of Shikamaru and his friends, there shouldn't be any issues.
Of course, this was just the worst-case scenario. What if things didn't develop that way?
Anyway, anything is possible.
"Hokage-sama, please put on this Helmet."
After receiving the money, Ge Liang led Hiruzen Sarutobi to the Computer Area and introduced him to the Computer Facilities.
However, when he mentioned the Virtual Helmet, he noticed Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was a bit off.
"Must I wear this?"
"It's not absolutely necessary, but to give you a better experience, wearing this Helmet would be preferable."
Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi said nothing, but stared intently at Ge Liang.
Inside the Internet Cafe, Ge Liang wasn't afraid of him. If you dare to stare at me, I'll stare back at you.
For a moment, a situation arose where the two were locked in a staring contest.
Perhaps his eyes were starting to dry out from staring, but Hiruzen Sarutobi was the first to look away, saying meaningfully, "Alright, I hope you won't disappoint me."
"Don't worry, Hokage-sama, this place definitely won't disappoint you."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was referring to 'you,' Ge Liang the person.
But Ge Liang was referring to 'here,' the Internet Cafe.
The conversation between the two was completely off-topic, yet the meaning was similar. One has to admit that the Chinese language is truly profound.
What? You ask why the Naruto World speaks Chinese?
Naive. Don't you know there's a Chinese Version of Naruto?
Who says Transmigrating into the Naruto World can only land you in the Japanese Version? Ge Liang just happened to Transmigrate into the Chinese Version.
That's just how awesome it is.
As for why Ge Liang had the ability to Transmigrate into the Chinese Version?
Don't ask.
If you ask, the answer is the System (Author) is awesome.