Chapter Seven

Naruto was currently in his apartment playing a game of eight ball with DJ Khaled. The rapper was dressed in a black Jordan'23' tee-shirt and Mike Amiri Art Patch Rosebowl Jeans. His outfit was completed with a pair of Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Bred Sneakers, a gold cuban link chain, a gold cuban link bracelet and matching watch.

"Come on Khaled I know you got a price."

The DJ laughed as he knocked a ball in a pocket.

"Naruto you know I got nothing but love for you but the beat is already taken."

"Come on Khaled. That beat is fire, if you let me and the rest of the Lyon Clan spit it's bound to be fire."

The Disk Jockey looked at the young rapper and shook his head.

"I don't know how you do it...fine the track is yours but you owe me, and I hear the final track before it get's released. And you gotta work on a few of my tracks"

Naruto nodded. "I appreciate brother. I really do."

The rapper went to hit the cue ball but his doorbell rang out interrupting him.

"Who the fuck?"

He grabbed a remote and aimed it at a monitor on the wall that was connected to a security camera outside his door. When he saw who it was he sighed.

"As much as I would like to continue this I unfortunately have business to attend to."

The DJ looked at the monitor and nodded. "Alright, I'm gonna get outta here and email you that track. Oh I set up that meeting with my guy from Jordan for later this week."

"You always come through. I appreciate it you know I'm bout that big business."

"We the best Empire."

Naruto smirked. "That's forever."

"For life."

"It's about more money I'm talking big."

The rapper dapped the DJ up and left the apartment passing Dre in the hallway.

"So you wear those suits even when your not at work now?"

Dre smirked. "The style is starting to grow on me, some real boss shit don't you think."

"It agrees with you but I'm guessing you didn't make the trip over here to talk about style so what's on your mind."

The rapper leaned against his pool table as Dre cleared his throat.

"I'm here to talk about Ghost and Tommy."

"About?"

"I wanna replace them. Don't you think they've caused to many problems over the last few years. The feds, the whole Lobos situation, Milan and now the Toros Locos."

"The Toros Locos?"

"Yeah. Apparently they the ones who been hitting you."

"And why isn't Ghost telling me this?"

Dre laughed. "Honestly Ghost hasn't been very forth coming lately plus he's spreadded way too thin between the club, the divorce and trying to run the business he's barely staying afloat."

The young rapper looked into the eyes of his friend.

"What exactly are you asking me Dre?"

"I wanna take down Ghost and I need your backing. Your powerful and respected, plus together we can take down the Toros Locos. I already have the meet set up with The Jimenez Cartel I just need you to have my back."

Naruto sighed as he walked to a counter and poured himself a drink.

"Why are you telling me this. I don't do business with the Jimenez I'm with Delnegro and I know better than to double cross him."

"You think I'm stupid?"

Naruto lauged. "What makes you say that?"

"The fact that you've been operating in New York for almost two years with no retaliation from the Jimenez was a big giveaway. That means you have something on them."

The blonde nodded and put his drink down. "Your right Dre I do have something on the Jimenez but tell me why should I help you?"

"Because I've always been there for you."

"So has Ghost!"

Dre looked into Naruto's eyes and saw nothing but anger.

"Why should I throw away everything I have with Ghost for you?"

Dre nodded and pulled out a folder from his jacket.

"Truth has been the most profitable club in the city since it opened. Ever since your father opened his club he's been trying to acquire Truth to get rid of the competition but G wouldn't budge. I'm offering to transfer everything that belongs to the club to you."

"Now it's my turn to say do you think I'm stupid. The club cleans about seventy five percent of your money so how am I supposed to expect you to just give it to me?"

"Of course for a fee I would like to continue operating out of Truth."

"You've thought of just about everything haven't you?"

"I like to be prepared. Now do you have my back?"

Dre held out his hand and Naruto sighed.

"Fine I got your back. Send me the time and place and I'll be there."

The two clasped hands and pulled each other in to pat the others back.

"I appreciate it brother. I'm gonna get out of your hair, there are things I gotta set into motion."

"Yeah no problem and send your brother through to Leviticus, I hear he's been blowing up on SoundCloud."

Dre nodded. "I'll text him, catch you later."

Dre left Naruto's apartment and the rapper immediately pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

"Tell your boss we need to talk."

Next Day

Naruto was at Empire in the studio with Hakeem and Jamal listening to the beat that Khaled sent over. The rapper rocked a OFF-WHITE C/O Virgil Abloh Men's Distressed Leather Moto Jacket, layered over a Louis Vuitton 'LV' Circle Hooded Sweater. He topped his outfit off with a pair of distressed denim jeans, Air Jordan XII Premium "Deep Royal Blue" sneakers, a pair of gold framed blue tinted sunglasses and a gold cuban link chain around his neck.

"Yo bro I can get down with this beat."

Jamal nodded in agreement. "Yeah man this is tight. Where's dad aren't we supposed to be working on this together like a family project."

Naruto nodded. "Yeah I think he's interviewing directors. He wants to do a little documentary on this."

"When has anything I've ever done been little."

Lucious walked in with Anika right behind him.

"Well this song will be little if you don't work on it, I emailed it to you last night did you listen to it?"

"Alright well Jamal said he'll work on the hook so me you and Keem to supply some verses, I already got one."

He got up and walked into the booth and signaled the engineer to start the beat. He bobbed his head a little before smirking.

Shit ain't been the same since I came through in that hot shit
They gon' talk about you 'til you ain't got shit
Still gon' talk about you when you got shit
All eyes on me, I'm on my Pac shit
Y'all rap niggas on some pop shit
I've been duckin' paparazzi with a pop bitch
Glock .30 in the cockpit
Sippin' dirty, conversatin' with the pilot
Nigga, you ain't seen it, I've been fuckin' up arenas
Hangin with double M, the genius
We the motherfuckin' meanest
And the cleanest in a long time
You pussy niggas hatin' on me picked the wrong time
Long line for a limp mink draggin', new bandwagon
Blood drippin' on me lookin' like a nigga stabbed him
I be on the money, bakin' soda in the cabinet
Pyrex, tryna whip a Rollie, makin' magic
Laughin' at you fuck niggas gettin' madder
If I feel threatened, I'ma go and get a ladder
And climb up your chest, nigga
Motherfuck your vest, nigga
Motherfuck your couch, I'm with Khaled, the best, nigga

Naruto took his headset off and nodded. "What y'all think?"

Lucious leaned back in his seat and nodded.

"Just like always you don't fail to disappoint."

The rapper nodded and walked out of the booth and Hakeem went in immediately after. The family worked on the song for a few hours before heading to Leviticus where Naruto had his meeting with the Jordan representative.

"I know this isn't probably the normal setting that you hold your meetings in but I wanted to put you in my element."

The rep smiled and waved him off.

"Nonsense that what we want. Khaled put in a big recommendation for you but we wanna see how you live so we can see what we are selling. Plus I'm not gonna turn down the free champagne."

He smiled at a waitress who placed a bottle of champagne down at your table.

"Ok so before we talk about anything this is an unofficial meeting just me getting to know you as a character before I bring my supervisors and superiors to the table. You cool with that?"

"Yeah sounds good to me."

"Ok so I'm gonna give you the whole spiel and you just answer everything as if this was the real meeting. Do you remember your first pair of Jordan's?"

The rapper nodded. "Yeah I do. I actually got into wearing Jordan's kinda late so my first pair were the nineteens which I got when I was around twelve."

"Great way to get introduced to the brand, I actually own every pair of nineteens. And signing with use you'll get exclusive access to our shoes, if you don't already have them. Along with a sizable endorsement contact and the opportunity to release your own signature shoe with us. How does that all sound."

"Sounds good to me."

"Good now like I said this is all unofficial but your a good guy and one hell of a rapper so I'm sure my superiors will have no problem drafting a contract up for you. Now how about we celebrate."

Naruto nodded his head to the bouncer and he let two gorgeous woman into the VIP booth one blonde and one brunette. The blonde sat next to the rep while the brunette sat next to Naruto who chuckled and shook his head.

"Sorry but my girlfriend will kill me but I'm sure my friend over there can entertain you both."

The woman nodded and sat next to the rep as Naruto grabbed the bottle and took a swig.

"Aye yo Ruto!"

The rapper turned to see Dre walking up with his brother.

Naruto quickly waved them in and invited them to sit down.

"I been tryna get y'all two to meet for awhile but Naruto this is my brother Artist. Artist I'm sure you know who this is."

"Of course I've been a fan for years, I'm just shocked that you actually wanted to meet with me."

Naruto smirked and shook Artist's, better known as A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, hand.

"Well don't be. It's not everyday a SoundCloud rapper makes waves and you've made a tsunami so big ups to you on that."

Artist nodded. "Aye that means a lot coming from you."

Naruto took another swing of champagne before speaking.

"So what's next for you?"

"I'm working with a few of my boys on a mixtape. After that hopefully get a label to hook us up."

The rapper nodded his head and pulled a business card.

"Tell you what. Drop that mixtape and consider this Empire putting in their bid for you on the label."

Artist looked at the paper dumbfounded as Naruto saw a text on his phone.

"Yo that's dope! Can you even do that?"

Naruto nodded as he stood up. "I have a pretty big pull. If I tell my pops you should be signed then he'll sign you. Now excuse me I gotta take care of something, I'll be right back."

Naruto excused himself and made his way through the club before exiting through the back loading dock area.

"Wassup Ruto."

"Chillin and takin care of some business. What can I do for you G?"

Naruto shared a bro hug with Ghost.

"I got something for you."

The club owner pulled out his phone and showed Naruto a picture of a man.

"Who the fuck is that?"

"Diego Christobal Martinez. The leader of the Hermanos Tianos. Him and Dre are tight."

Naruto eyed Ghost. "So what are you trying to say?"

"What he's saying is we need to kill that mothafucka."

Naruto turned around and came face to face with Kanan.

"Sup lil nigga."

And Done!

I probably wrote this chapter like ten times. Couldn't decide which route to go but I like what I have so far.

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Duces!