TWG: Reverb

~The Establishment Arc~

Chapter 2: Settling In

[Strawberry]

Inside the Tahitian apartment, Naruto began to slowly open his eyes, feeling that morning grogginess. He had just risen up and held his neck before cracking a muscle or two.

"Ugh,…what time is it?" He asked himself before a lack of Isaribi's presence.

Looking around, he noticed that all of her stuff was gone, her clothes in the open closet to all her technology. It was then that he turned to the pillow and saw a small written letter was left on it, as he grabbed the short letter and began reading it.

'Tempting as it is to stay, you need your own space as I do mine. In time, after we work together…we can share a place. The whole apartment is me paying you back for saving my ass, and I took the liberty to transfering all your money to your new Maze Bank account that I have established. So you don't have to carry your cash around in this city. Plus, I left you something extra to spare you some troubles.

I'm off to recuperate some losses, but we'll see each other soon. Don't be a stranger, partner.

;) Isaribi'

Written underneath was the details of Naruto's new Maze Bank account, to which he pulled out his phone and went directly to the Maze Bank banking site. He found all his money transferred into it plus extra from her. He had a little over double the amount he had earned last night.

"Well, time to get settled into this city."

Getting out of bed, Naruto moved to get dressed ready to start the day. He put a mental note to go shopping later as he dressed up with a black t-shirt, a pair of black cargo pants, black high-top sneakers with orange stripes, and his burnt orange flight jacket tied around his waist.

He pulled out of his black bandana that had the red Whirlpool insignia on it, the symbol of the maternal side of his family. He remembered the history…a clan having the Emperor's back in the Feudal Era, but constant deaths by war and political assassinations, shrunk the numbers. By the modern era, with Clans being abolished since Reformation, one could say the Uzumaki name was a dying breed, spread thin across the old country. Not like it mattered to him given the other two families, the Hyugas and the Uchihas, held a great amount of influence within their respective communities and were somewhat abusing said power.

Knock! Knock! knock!

The sound of the door knocking got Naruto out of his thoughts.

He raised his head back up and shouted out while tying his shoelaces, "Who's there?"

"Who do you think it is, nigga?"

It was Lamar's voice.

"Your best and only motherfucking friend in the US of A. Now open up this door!"

"Alright, coming." Naruto said putting the bandana away as he opened the door.

"What's happening, loc? I see you got yourself some different threads." Lamar noted Naruto's clothing.

Lamar was decked out in a white shirt, gray shorts, a white chain, white sneakers with a green LS Corkers hat.

"Black and Orange, like back then when you used to wear those bright jumpsuits?" Lamar snarked.

"Thanks for nothing, I improved my clothing." Naruto noted before he asked. "Say, how come you know where I stayed?"

Lamar responded, "I know the owner, a good homie. Anyway, I was gonna ask if you wanted to go and eat something, you busy?"

"Sure, what we eating?"

[~TWG:R~]

[Mission Row]

After some small-time driving, the two were now inside Rusty Brown's Ring Donuts, the donut and coffee shop that was only a few blocks away. Lamar had offered to buy Naruto some breakfast to begin his day, healthy enough - because even Lamar knows when to eat healthy.

But on his way, Naruto came to meet another companion of Lamar he hadn't met, but saw in his pictures on Lifeinvader - the rottweiler named Chop, who was given a dry donut on the ground for him to devour it with ease.

"Ease up, Chop, damn." Lamar told his little friend while he was eating a sandwich with dark coffee. "You still gotta eat later, homie."

"Honestly, the fact you're talking to your dog like that, is kinda weird." Naruto admitted. "Not a bad weird, but a good one."

Naruto had just got coffee with milk, a bacon sandwich, and a chocolate donut.

"Yeah, I get that, but that's just because Chop's my little nigga. Aren't you, Chop?" Lamar began patting the rottweiler's head, to which the dog was happy to take. "So, where's that girl you brought with you? I didn't see her."

"She's gone already." Naruto told him. "Left the place to handle some business, saying she needs a place of her own. But she's eager to see me again."

"What? You didn't hit that?" Lamar asked with a raised eyebrow. "And she looked fine too, what happened?"

"Nothing happened, really. Plus, I found her injured…not exactly a great turn-on." Naruto admitted. "We were both tired after last night's events, and we just went to sleep, nothing more."

Lamar shook his head and replied. "Too bad, man. She was a fine looking girl" He then changed subjects. "Anyway, you got anything planned for today? Because I got something that needs to be dealt with."

Naruto raised his head up. "What is it?"

"A repo job, my boy Simeon's been hollering to me." Lamar said, as the coffee shop's now mostly empty, he could tell him the details without any eavesdropping folks to listen. "He's the owner of Premium Deluxe Motorsport car dealership in Pillbox Hill. He's the guy I mentioned to you in the emails we send back and forth, remember?"

"You mean that Armenian guy?" Naruto guessed, his memory kicking in. "The one you say is a good bullshit artist?"

"Yeah, that's him, nigga. That's the guy." Lamar confirmed as he went on. "He sells cars to anyone in LS who's dumb to fall for his schemes, but now he's got a problem. One of his cars, a purple Benefactor Schafter, got stolen by some punk ass Ballas from Jamestown Street up in Rancho. I told him you were good enough for the job."

"Again with these Ballas, Lamar." Naruto said skeptically. "I am intending not to make too many enemies with a whole gang."

"No, no, no, no. You're missing the point. These are just some small-time crew of Ballas, not some serious cats." Lamar reiterated his words. "They're a subset that's been beefing with the other Balla groups and mainly with their Vagos neighbors, so you are in no need to fear any payback if you take those punks out and repo that ride."

Despite Lamar's words, Naruto knew as long as he was allying with the Families, that was always a risk. Not that it mattered to him now, Naruto got up with a smirk.

"All right, I'll deal with it. Tell Simeon, he'll get his wheels." Naruto said, putting a note of money on the table. "Pay's on me."

Lamar appreciated it, answering, "Aight, I'll holler at Simeon's place."

[Ballas to the Wall]

Naruto nodded and took his leave for the door to exit the building. It was then he saw a group of plainclothes people with badges were coming through the front door. These were the cops of the Mission Row Police Station. The cops took no notice of Naruto as they just walked past him, some even bumping into him without saying much and walking over to the counter to make some orders for the day. Naruto made as much of a little notice to himself as possible, like Lamar who was seen with his head down, trying to avoid eye contact with them. Unknown to him, there was one with an eye on him.

Watching him from a distance, he had walked past a long straight-haired blonde South African woman with dark eyes and red lipstick on her. Decked out in a gray hoodie underneath a tight, purple, leather jacket, jeans that kept her Glock holstered at the hip, and a pair of white Heat Classic strap sneakers.

"Hey, Yugito, you coming in or what?" One of her colleagues asked.

"Guys, go on ahead. I need to get back to the office." She said before leaving the building herself.

…

Just when he got back to his ride, Naruto's phone buzzed with a text from Isaribi that he began to read.

'Naruto, heading out of state for a job. Left my red Hellfury at your place, look after it for me.'

"She better bring a souvenir." Naruto said before heading off to Jamestown Street unaware of being tailed.

"All right, lead me to an easy arrest." She said, as she followed him, having decided to follow him.

In her striking blue Grotti Cheetah Classic that stuck out like a sore thumb. The car had been used by VCPD in the 1980s, which would stand out to the eagle-eye car manic. A true classic that purred like the apex predator it was. Yugito Nii was a cop eager to make the streets of Los Santos safer, being seen as a brave face on the force. Not helped by the overt pride in the law, because it's not like that has not been perverted before. She simply was fully down for dishing out justice! She watched as the suspect was leaving, as she began following him from a distance.

She, however, did not know what she was getting herself into. But when she was a fairly new cop to the scene, unaware of how LS really works, she was in for it today.

[Earlier that day…]

[Tataviam Truckstop]

Isaribi arrived at the truckstop feeling rather good about herself. She did feel rather bad about leaving Naruto behind early, but she had business to take care of. She could not spend it snuggling him…even if it was tempted. She had to go get checked out by a doctor before getting her hair fixed. It was still chin-length, but styled to a slick asymmetrical bob.

She now wore a gray racerback under a black classic biker jacket, a pair of black ProLaps track pants with white stripes on the sides, black calf boots, a pair of black fingerless gloves, a pair of green tinted sunglasses, and a black ProLaps backpack.

She got off her recently hijacked cherry red Western Motorcycle Company Hellfury before going into Bishop's Chicken and sat at a table where Danica was waiting for her. Her duffel bag was in the saddle of the bike.

"I ordered the chicken sandwich combo as you wanted." Danica said before Isaribi got out her wallet. "Don't worry about that."

"Good to know you care, Dani." Isaribi said as they both took off their sunglasses. "It's good to see you again."

"Likewise. You sounded partly annoyed on the phone, more than usual." Danica said as they ate their meals. "What happened?"

Danica got the story from Isaribi who looked relieved hearing it.

"How fortunate. It seems I gifted the right customer...this warrants a thank you." Danica remarked.

"I'm worth a discount. I'm touched." Isaribi said before downing her drink.

"I'm surprised you didn't stay with him." Danica remarked.

"I couldn't… he and I need our own space before we can share anything…even if it was sorely tempting to just stay with him." Isaribi said, biting her lip. "I can't just rush to stain the sheets."

"You and your libido." Danica snarked.

"Oh, don't act like you don't have one, Miss Frigid." Isaribi snapped back.

"Time and place for that." Danica said snarkily. "But let's get down to business."

They finished their meals and went outside to get down to business. Isaribi was quick to buy body armor, a pair of automatic pistols, a Sweeper Shotgun, a Carbine Rifle, a parachute, and a few Sticky Bombs. With them put away, Isaribi paid Danica before helping her close the trunk of her car.

"I suppose I will text Naruto of his 10% discount with me for future purchases." Danica said before getting her car. "Later. See you soon, Isaribi...but did you have to dress as a biker?"

"Nostalgic for your old jacket? I jacked this jacket off the biker I whacked for the bike. Just like old times." Isaribi said as Danica laughed. "We should hang out again, maybe later this week...hit up the cinema."

"You've convinced me. Just don't end up having to be bailed out by luck again. Goodbye." Danica said before driving away.

Isaribi was quick to get on her bike before racing away. Her mind was on Naruto again. She did not mind sleeping by his side, but she could not just live in an apartment with him that quickly. Not yet, she thought. She was about to shoot a text to Naruto when a call came in from a familiar number. She answered with a combination of anger and annoyance.

"Isaribi, I'm so-"

"Fuck you Marnie." Isaribi remarked.

"Look, this is all a giant mistake. The person targeted was the wrong man, the one actually guilty had pinned the blame on him to save himself. He got out of the state with stealing a lot of cash from our program. This was all my fault, I made a bad call and nearly got you killed for it. The Divine One has accepted my request to personally ensure things are made up." Marnie said emphatically trying to appease Isaribi. "I even have a personal reward, off the books."

"And what is this?" She asked.

"The apartment I was selling through Dynasty8. It's a medium-end place on South Mo Milton Drive. 6-car garage…it's worth 150 grand." Marnie explained. "Do the job and it's yours along with the 150,000 grand we owe you."

"I want the payment upfront. Half to my account, half in cash. And you're coming with me to make sure this is the last time we ever have to cross paths." Isaribi stated. "Where do I meet you?"

"The airport, I'll text you the hangar." Marnie said before hanging up.

The text and Isaribi hissed in annoyance. As Naruto was off on his first repo job, she dropped off the motorcycle at Naruto's apartment before texting him.

'Naruto, heading out of state for a job. Left my red Hellfury at your place, look after it for me.'

She got a cab to drop her at the airport where she went to the requested hanger where Marnie was waiting near a white Buckingham Nimbus.

"Hey." Marnie said as Isaribi scowled. "We got you some equipment and your money."

She handed her the briefcase and Isaribi checked for the money which was all there. As the equipment the Epsilon bunch had given her, a Marksman Rifle , an MG, and an Antique Cavalry Dagger. Isaribi simply loaded up and got on the plane with Marnie. Isaribi sat on the pilot seat before asking Marnie where their target was.

"Las Venturas. He's been using the money to live the high life. I doubt I'm going to have any money left to return to Fromage." Marnie said as Isaribi started up the plane.

"You won't because I'm taking what's left as a compensation bonus." Isaribi said darkly to her. "And I want the plane."

"I was prepared for this. As long as you don't land the plane back here, it's yours. And I only want 20% of what money is left, I can count it as in part your donation to our program. We'll all be square and we can cut ties." Marnie said as Isaribi got the plane airborne.

"You better." Isaribi said.

[Rancho]

After a twenty-minute drive, Naruto had parked the car a few blocks away before starting to walk through the Rancho streets with his head lowered. He was intending not to gain any suspicion from the gang members he was walking past. Even if he wasn't wearing any gang colors, he was on high alert as he was a stranger in a neighborhood. From what he remembered, Rancho was a block that's been mostly dominated by the Vagos, but it also held some streets controlled or fought over by their Balla counterparts, especially by some smaller crews who were not having it with their rivals.

While having passed through, Naruto would experience some stares from a few people, mainly non-gang members, who were glaring at him as if he's not welcome here.

'You'd think these guys would realize they are just as racist as the rich pricks of this city.' Naruto thought, as he rounded the street, spotting the Ballas and the target car.

He then began to approach the house, but got spotted by the few Ballas who saw him. With one of them even seen reaching for something behind his back.

"Hey, boy," The Balla with the Boars jacket began. "You're a long way from Little Seoul, where you from?"

Right before Naruto could reach for his own weapon, the squeal of tires got everyone's attention. The Cheetah drifted to a stop, out came Yugito with her Glock 17L out, bursting in the scene with a halt to them.

"Freeze! LSPD!" Yugito said. "Nobody moves!"

"Fuck you, pig!" A Balla said shooting her.

BANG!

"Ah, fuck!"

Yugito got nicked on the shoulder, but shot the first shooter in the chest.

CLUNK!

"Uck!"

Yugito got hit from behind, without any time to react. She got smacked by one Balla who sucker punched her, with her head hitting the hood of her car. She fell like a sack of potatoes from the cheap shot.

"Police bitch-"

TRRT!

The sucker punching Balla got just shot multiple times through the chest by Naruto who had his Mac 11 out.

"Brian!" The Boars jacket wearing Balla went for his own gat. "You-"

"Fuck you!" Naruto snarled.

Naruto kept on firing the machine gun at the gang members and went on the assault having caught both Ballas off guard, including the one who shot first. He mowed them down in the front yard, where they both landed on their backs with blood stains on their shirts.

Another Balla was seen coming out from the house and came out with his pistol blazing, firing three shots without any aim and only hit Yugito's car, two bullets hitting the windshield as the last hit the street. Naruto got a headshot in with his own glock before the dead banger fall on his face staining the grass with blood.

"Shit…." Naruto got back up as he quickly changed magazines before he went on to check the police officer. "Just my luck."

If anything, Naruto was wondering if the police in this country were bone-headed and how he missed one trailing him. Not like it mattered, he had a job to do. Firstly, he raided the dead Ballas for cash and ammo. and checked on the ride, and saw that the Schafter was still in good condition. The car keys were still in the ignition which got Naruto to balk.

"Who leaves the keys in the car? I'm dealing with morons today, I swear." Naruto muttered as he opened the driver's seat door. "Unlocked…of course it is."

"Ugh…"

"Oh great," Naruto groaned as he turned his sight towards the unconscious cop. "No way in hell am I having this."

He could not have a dead cop on his hands. First order of business was moving the Schafter, which he parked the ride at a nearby taco place before walking back. He checked on the cop, she was hurt…but alive.

"Consider it your lucky day." He muttered, getting her in her car's passenger's side. "You're not dying today."

He got on the driver's side and checked his phone to seek out the nearest convenience store. He found a Liquor Deli and started up the VCPD Cheetah.

"Ok, as far I know, a cop can't afford a car like this." Naruto said to himself as he got it in gear. "But I am in no mood to find out, but let's bring you to a different place."

…

After a bit of searching and getting what he needed, a foreclosed warehouse up on Innocence Boulevard was what Naruto found was the perfect location for the unconscious cop and her ride to be placed in.

Having now already parked the Cheetah inside of it, he then pulled her out of the ride. He was careful to keep her head upwards, so her neck wouldn't get too much pressure. His parents had taught him well.

Placing her on the ground, Naruto then began to check through her clothes, mainly to find something on her.

"Don't think I'm doing some perverted shit, woman." Naruto told the unconscious cop, more really to justify it in his own mind.

He then pulled out her badge before seeing she was wearing a pearl necklace around her neck, which is odd, but he paid little attention to that as he read through.

"Yugito Nii. Gang and Narcotics Division …" Naruto read out. "Of course, a plain clothes cop, nice car, makes sense."

Lamar had warned him of cops like her, the dirtiest kind of police there is, gangsters in uniform. It did make him feel less guilty about doing this. First was getting her jacket and hoodie off, revealing a police badge clipped to a blue sports bra.

"I could leave it, but considering the shit you put me through…" He said to himself.

That came off and Naruto did appreciate the size and shape. Pale pink nubs on those mounds that he burned into his memory.

A grin formed on his face as he said, "Lucky for her, I ain't no sick fuck…but I'm not angel either"

Then the idea got to him before cleaning her up and redressing her.

After a small drive and getting the car fixed, Naruto had now parked the VCPD Cheetah in front of a Longpig Mini Market on Jamestown Street, just when it was closed.

*Click!*

Having just used his phone, Naruto took a picture of the cop Yugito, sitting in the driver's seat, with her badge out and head sideways, she looked like she was sleeping, a bad pic could end a cop's career, especially when it was just a few meters away from a gang killing.

"Ugh," Naruto groaned as he said. "Let's just hope this will never need to be used. Goodbye, sleeping beauty."

As he left her, Naruto went back to the Schafter and drove off in it, just then when the blonde cop began coming back to the land of the living. Her eyes began to open up, groaning in pain as she rubbed her head, Yugito rose up.

"Shit, my head." She said, rubbing her eyes. "A convenience store?"

She realized she was not in the area she was earlier. She immediately checked herself with bandages on her wounded spots. She sighed with relief that whoever did it had not taken her car keys, her wallet, or her shoes.

She had just been spared…by a criminal, and it puzzled her mind as she tried to figure out why he did that. She failed to realize the pragmatic reasoning for it, however, and was thinking of the simple fact that he spared her. Even still, the guy could've just stolen her car, yet that wasn't done. She failed to realize that the car stuck out and would be easily found even if he had stolen it.

"With…who the hell did I just deal with?" Yugito questioned, with the headache that was busting her head.

She had no way to think now as the radio chatter came in.

"We have reports of a gang shooting in Jamestown Street, multiple dead Ballas. All units in the area respond, over."

She knew if she said anything, she would look incompetent for basically going cowboy cop on something she could called backup. Considering there were no drugs found, she had no idea why the Ballas were about to blast Naruto. All and all, it would make it look like she was picking a fight. She promptly got her car started and drove away from the area. She did not bother to answer her radio…

[~TWG:R~]

[Pillbox Hill]

After an hour of driving around to ensure he was not being followed, Naruto then finally drove up behind a building.

The Premium Deluxe Motorsport, the crooked vehicle dealership that Lamar told him about, is where the Armenian contact of his works, specializing in sports cars and tuners. All ran by Simeon Yeterian, the legal crook in the neighborhood with a license.

"This is the place."

Having driven around the building, Naruto saw the garage doors behind it being open and drove the car right in. He parked it before he then got out of the vehicle to start asking around the empty-looking place.

"Hello, anybody here?" Naruto shouted out, "I'm looking for Simeon?" .

"Ah yes, my new nephew."

Naruto raised his eyebrow to see a jolly bald Armenian man walking towards him from out of nowhere, middle-aged and his arms spread out, the man was walking towards him

"You must be Naruto, I see. Lamar told me you'd be coming. So good to see you." Simeon greeted him by shaking Naruto's hand and patted him on the shoulder. "How are you doing, my boy? The family doing alright? Your mother doing good?"

Naruto was at first kinda astonished by the way this man was greeting him. Despite Simeon being a bullshit artist, Naruto mentally gave props for him being a genuine welcoming guy, perhaps it was that Armenian way of welcoming someone that was part of his nature. So he decided to play it along.

"She's doing fine, thank you for asking. So does my family." Naruto smiled as he shook the car dealer's hand firmly, respectfully of course, before he mentioned it. "I got you the car that you wanted."

Simeon took a look at it and was delighted to see it.

"Good, my boy, good! Did you come across any problems with the thieves?" He remarked.

"Nah, the police unintentionally drew their attention away…and I just got it back with little issue." Naruto said smoothly. "You'd swear the cops are all hot-blooded and eager to shoot someone."

"Too much coffee and donuts, those boys in blue. No wonder half of this city is in such bad shape. If they took some lessons from the police back in my Old Country, we wouldn't have this problem, but anyway." Simeon said, leading Naruto inside to the backroom. "Because of what you've done for me, I'll give you this, kid. A token of my appreciation."

There it was, a plain white and blue Vapid Dominator.

"I normally don't do this, but I won it in a poker game. I can't sell it because I won it in a poker game. But you'll make fine use of it." Simeon said, tossing him the keys. "If it's one thing -Lamar did well for me was giving me your number. I'll be seeing you soon, Naruto. I'll let your cousin know to get you a tracker and some customization on the house."

"Uncle Simeon, I love you already and I'm so eager to work for you." Naruto said as Simeon chuckled.

Naruto got the car moved further into the modding area, meeting his 'cousin' Sacha. The car was already laid out with a 20% Armor Upgrades, street quality brakes, street quality transmission, street level suspension, and a Level 1 EMS Upgrade leaving Naruto wanting to focus on the design getting the car painted to a metallic sunrise orange with the stripe being black. For the bodywork, he got window vents. For the bumper and fender, a custom front splitter and a painted rear bumper. He even got titanium exhaust as Sacha was getting into putting effort in the car. A custom grill was put to match the rear louvers on the back windshield. The custom skirt was put in, painted black to match the black high-level spoiler. The lights were up to Xenon quality and the windows were limo shaded (the darkest for cars). Sacha threw in turbo tuning with a side of nitrous. With golden shower neon below, the plate was blue on white with 'WHIRL810' on it. The tracker was finally placed.

"It's completed. Some of my best work… I didn't think we had Japanese in our family though." Sacha said mirthfully in his strong Armenian accent. "No need to worry about insurance papers and documentation like that, Uncle Simeon covered it."

"Thanks a lot, appreciate it. Naruto said, getting in the car and offering his hand to the mechanic. "See ya round."

"You too, and welcome to America."

Naruto blazed down the street in his new wheels, simply enjoying tearing the streets on this thing. As Sacha waved him off before he went back to bopping on his techno music on his headphones and continued working on whatever there was left.

…

Driving a bit through the streets, Naruto was thinking to himself for a bit, having now gotten himself more opportunities. His car was not the ZR-350 back home, but it was still a sweet ride.

"Got a new car, a new contact for work, and I have quality blackmail on a cop." Naruto said as he laid his head back on his seat. "What a day."

Then his phone began ringing, to which he connected the phone to the car's speaker so he could drive without looking down.

"Yo, Uzumaki speaking here."

"Yo yourself, partner." The snarky voice was none other than Isaribi herself, "I can't stay long. Just wanted to let you know I'm on my way to Las Venturas."

Naruto responded. "Venturas? Now you have to bring me a souvenir."

"I will. I'll be busy for a week or less depending on where this job goes. I have to put up with the cult again… Thankfully, the putz they sent with me is asleep on the plane."

"Wait, you're working with them again? Why?" Naruto asked, a bit suspicious. "They almost killed you."

"Long story short, they got the wrong guy because the actual traitor pinned the blame on my passenger. They're making it up to me…pretty much because they know I'd go after them. And considering they're still trying to be declared a religion, they don't need me as an issue. Hell, they want to give every reason to keep me and the target's mouths shut."

"What's stopping them from kil-Oh…right, you'd be aware of it." Naruto said, correcting himself.

"Once I'm done, the cult and I are cutting ties for good. Frankly, I'm looking forward to getting back to you. I miss you and LS already." Isaribi said.

"Miss sharing a bed with me already?" Naruto said as Isaribi sputtered. "I'm kidding…mostly."

"So what's up with you?" Isaribi asked.

When Naruto told her, she was laughing.

"That cop sounds like a massive dumbass. Somehow, the cops in LS are worse than the ones in Liberty. You got better morals than me, though. I would have stripped her naked, taken enough naked pictures to make a small gallery, and dumped her in the middle of the wilderness. Even hide her car in plain sight for extra measure."

"Damn, you worked with some Cartel people or something like that?" Naruto said. "Remind me never to piss you off."

"Noted. Look, I'll see you soon. I'm about to land…and send me that picture. I could use a good laugh and a copy just in case. Ciao." Isaribi said before hanging up.

Naruto had sent her the photo before calling up Lamar. Who quickly answered the phone call himself, perhaps been waiting for how the job went.

"If it ain't my favorite boy from the East." Lamar began with one of his introductions. "What's happening, you done?"

Naruto chuckled and responded. "I just got out of Simeon's place, and you're right. He is a bullshit artist, but a good one."

"Told you, Simeon's like that, but he pays, and that's something." Lamar told him. "Anyway, where are you at? Cuz I'm up my house on Forum Drive, wanna have a beer to celebrate?"

Finding it not a problem, Naruto went in on Lamar's invitation and accepted. "Sure, just let me drop my car off at my place, and I'll come walking towards your place, it's the same, right?"

"Yeah, next to Franklin's, but he ain't home. Out running with Tanisha, left me alone with Chop." Lamar said. "See you in a minute."

[Ballas to the Wall - Mission Complete (+JP, PV Gained)]

[Strawberry]

Lamar's house was always down for being a hangout for members of the Families. Lamar, despite his faults, knew how to make good weed, even if members would say it's not perfect. It was part of the reason Vernon tolerated him…along with the fact Lamar was decently liked by the gang as a whole. But now it was just occupied by two people.

Now sitting on the couch, Naruto and Lamar were drinking a beer after a long day of going around the city. Naruto had just told Lamar about the way things went down in Jamestown Street.

"You clapped five Ballas at once? Damn, you work quick." Lamar said, a bit impressed, but then asked about the other part. "And it was the cop who started shooting?"

"Pretty much, yes." Naruto confirmed while grimacing. "She rolled right up in this car that possibly costs more than she could make, and got knocked out in the process in the back by one dude."

"Stupid cops-wait, did you say she?" Lamar's voice cracked up a bit upon that mention. "Like a female cop?"

"Yeah, blonde woman. Yugito Nii was her name" Naruto brought up the info about her. "Took a look at her badge when she was unconscious and read that she was a member of the Gang and Narcotics Division."

"Hmm, not ringing any bells with that name, but watch out for those crooked bitches." Lamar warned him while taking a sip from his bottle before he resumed. "They still acting like C.R.A.S.H. back in the day. So watch yourself out there."

"Don't worry, I'll make sure not to get intimidated by them." Naruto said, having still that picture, he'd make sure to keep it for blackmail purposes.

Knock! Knock! knock!

*Bark!*

Chop ran up to the door from his sleeping spot and was now barking and scratching the door to be opened, having picked up the smell of this person.

"Hey, Lamar, open the door." A male voice shouted.

Upon recognizing that voice, Lamar swiftly puts the beer bottle down and walks over to the door it is to be opened, revealing it to be Gerald and someone he didn't expect to come by, the OG from Davis Neighborhood Families, Vernon.

"G, V-"

"Sup, Lamar, and you too, Chop." The DNF gangster kneeled down to his knee to pat the rottweiler by the side of his neck. "How's my little homie doing?"

*Bark!* Chop responded by with his tongue hanging out of his mouth.

"Good boy."

"How you doing, N." Gerald greeted Naruto by slapping his hand and then looked around and asked. "Where's Franklin, he ain't here?"

"Frank? He got a date with Tanisha, that nigga, I swear, she already got him on a leash." Lamar commented before he got back on track. "But anyway, what y'all doing here unexpectedly? If I pissed you off, V, you know I-"

"You've done nothing wrong, today, Lamar. I just came by to pay a visit." Vernon told him before spotting Naruto and smiling. "Man, you've grown since the last time I saw you, Naruto."

Smiling at the old face he remembered from back then, Naruto stood up to properly shake his hand. "Hey Vernon. Been a long time."

"Yeah, like a decade or so. How you holding up?" Vernon asked. "Gerald told me you was back in town, for how long?"

"Naruto's staying here, homie." Lamar said, interrupting. "He's in it for yourself. Mr. Independent Contractor."

"Is that so? I just hope the Families is at the top of the client list." Vernon said as Naruto chuckled. "We got things that need to be done that we could use a third party for."

"It's a growing list…but you're up there." Naruto said, getting some laughs.

"But I got some news for your asses too. Working on perfecting my weed recipe, and when I do…I'll get the means to go legit, I'll call it LD Organics!" Lamar said as both Gerald and Vernon gave both mixed reactions.

"I'd sooner be arrested than that ever happening." Gerald snarked.

"If you go legit, I'll buy an 'LD Organics' t-shirt and hat, nigga." Vernon said before chuckling, clearly being sarcastic at this point. "I'll make the bangers on the set wear them too!"

"Nigga, you will eat those words. And when I do make t-shirts, I'll deliver the first one to you for to take a selfie with." Lamar said confidently.

Naruto at this point, took a look at the only non-human in the room, with Chop giving oddly enough, the most confused look possible.

"Me too, Chop, me too."

[The Tahitian]

Naruto parked into the parking garage for his apartment building before remembering his old car he ditched. He sighed, thinking he'd get it later. He looked over to see Isaribi's red Hellfury.

'I need to get myself a motorcycle.' Naruto thought, making a mental note.

He always had a bit of an affinity for them. It was a brisk walk up to his apartment before closing the door and plopping on the couch. His phone went off.

PING!

Grabbing it, he saw it was a long text message that was from his mother.

Hey son, it's me, your Kaa-chan!

I wish I could call you now, but given our time zones and my shift beginning shortly, this will have to do for now.

Everyone here misses you. Me, your father, your sister, your old classmates and even your old best friend, Sasuke have said his greetings. Given you two had your rivalry, I can pretty much guess he's missing out on some real competition. XP. What I'm hoping for soon is for us to soon speak on the phone, I want to hear your voice, just like your father and sister.

I text you because you might want to know that your pervert of a godfather, Jiraiya, might be in the US by now. Given his let's say 'known work' requires him to travel a lot, I wouldn't be surprised to see him in LS.

We all hope you had a good arrival and that we'll be able to call soon. Remember, eat your vegetables, exercise and try to find yourself a girl while you're at it, just don't try to become a father too soon like your father.

Love, your Mother.

"Oh, ma…" Naruto chuckled while reading that text.

He took note to call them soon when possible and looked into the time zones to plan out when he could call them. For now, one thing was on his mind while he was deciding what to do tomorrow, seeing he could do some jobs, but also wanted to explore the city a bit. He'll need to balance it for sure.

But then there was one other thing on his mind.

'But what to do with the old car? Maybe I should ask Simeon if there's a place to sell it off to?' Naruto thought.

Current Stats:

Naruto - $18,500 - Current Weapons: Fist, Pistol, Sawn-Off Shotgun, Micro SMG, Carbine Rifle

Isaribi - $188,400 - Current Weapons: Fist, Antique Calvary Dagger, Automatic 9mm, Sweeper Shotgun, MG, Carbine Rifle, Marksman Rifle , Sticky Bombs

(A/N: The original version had several errors that I mixed, and I wound up fixing them. Moving on, I am still pleased with the idea for me to have Marnie involved. Makes the world of GTA more alive by bringing back old characters, plus I wanted to think Marnie isn't going to just be fully brainwashed.)