Been in the updating mood lately, so here's the 3rd story I updated in the past week, lol.

Enjoy it folks, and leave reviews, please. I genuinely hope for some.

Peace!

Johnson House

Laying asleep, CJ was in his old room as he was fell flat on his stomach once he got on his bed. Wanting to just have a few hours rest to himself, he hoped no interruptions will be there…

No funerals, no drive-by shootings, no cops harassing him, and no other shenanigans.

*TRIIING!*

And it just happened to then the landline phone was going off, again. As this was the 3rd time in a short period of time, pretty much ending any chances for CJ to have a long night of sleep.

"Man…." Carl's eyes slowly woke up as he looked at the alarm clock and groaned. "Who calling now?"

*TRIIING!*

Standing up, the Johnson brother stood up from his bed and had his shoes on alongside his jeans and white t-shirt. Seeing he had slept through enough, he went on to check who was calling.

As he walked down the stairs, he hurried up a bit as it has been going for almost a minute by now.

*TRIIING!*

*Click!*

CJ picked the horn up and answered to whoever was calling.

"Hello? Who's this?"

Los Sepulcros cemetery

With a few minutes having passed eleven in the evening, it started the beginning of a new day in its earliest hours. It was clearly for those who were still awake and outside. Like now how an patrol car was seen parked right in front of Los Sepulcros cemetery entrance.

In that patrol unit were Frank Tenpenny and Eddie Pulaski, who came here as they were on the night shift, as both were taking their time out of the war zone in the Centrals as they went here.

*TCHK!*

As he took his moment to lighten up his cigar, Tenpenny had cooled off after a few hours of having been briefed by his superiors about the clusterfuck that was the possible inquiries into his career, sitting alongside Pulaski who also was seen smoking, but was focused on the open gate.

"What a mess we're in." Tenpenny muttered as he had indeed calmed down. "Chief is not going to tell us who allowed Uzumaki to go free and have Internal Affairs on our ass."

"Not after that drunk got pulled over by the guys up on the highway, that's for sure." Pulaski agreed, also agitated about the news. "But we can at least breathe a bit easy now with the union reps covering our backs."

"Yeah, glad I got them." Tenpenny muttered as he then began. "Anyway, got word who the dumb fucks were that shot up the cemetery here a few hours ago?"

"Yes, some of Kane's group." Pulaski clarified as he asked around. "Apparently the others were not happy hearing that Front Yard allowed it to happen."

"That little prick really couldn't wait even a week… We'll deal with him next - remind me to tax him double this time." Tenpenny groaned, as his impatience only grew even more.

"And how long does it take for Hernandez to place some fucking flowers?"

Walking down the cemetery, the Hispanic cop Jimmy Hernandez was holding a bouquet of flowers he wished to lay on the grave of the woman who had helped him in the past.

He hoped to do this in the night without any witnesses as he was unable to do so in the daylight when the service was happening and the sight of the family members possible recognizing him. Especially in his uniform. Let alone that the cemetery was a few hours ago a police scene for the shooting.

But now he was here, alone at night and about to drop these flowers to…then stand still and be amazed by what he saw.

"Mrs. Johnson…"

The grave site of Beverly Johnson was overwhelmingly covered with condolences letters and farewell bouquets that ranged in all kinds of different colors. Nearly in the hundreds of them that even caught the young Hispanic C.R.A.S.H officer by surprise.

"I… I'm sorry I couldn't come earlier."

Jimmy laid the bouquet on the others while kneeling down, making a small cross across his chest while saying his farewell to her.

"I hope you find peace wherever you are."

What the young officer didn't know was that he wasn't the only one to have come at night to lay flowers at the tombstone of the deceased Beverly. As one woman seen standing far off had just finished doing that earlier and was watching the cop do that.

"... Good to see you're doing okay, Jimmy."

The woman still in the shadows, decided to leave and return to her vehicle. Going on the road again back home as Los Santos had no other reason for her to be here.

Except for one person, who she knew was in the city, as the news had already reached her town.

*CLICK!*

Having opened up the door of the house he was visiting, CJ walked inside and was met with an very strong scent that was hanging in the air.

"Ah man…" Carl pinched his nose and muttered. "Yep, he's still awake."

Seeing that the backroom was still having its light on, CJ walked through the living room to be met with an some empty trays of fast food and even empty bottles of what he might assume were filled with water.

Walking in, the sight of Ryder sitting at the table while smoking his sticks was normal. It was him seen rolling up one of his cigar rolls with the substance, him doing his usual business for the Grove OG.

Ryder then happened to notice someone enter in with the music blasting in the background, seeing it was CJ.

"Hey, man, what you want?"

CJ said with his hands up. "Seeing my homie. What's up with you?"

"Yeah, homie, yeah yeah." Ryder said, avoiding eye contact while working. "It's good to see you back."

"No homie love?" CJ asked. "No hug?"

Oh, for sure, for sure my nigga, my bad." Ryder stood up to hug the Johnson brother for a quick moment. "What's crackin' with you?"

"Not much, but listen." CJ nodded after breaking the hug. "You know where Ruto's at? I gotta speak to him."

"Damn, he off his bed already? Homie doesn't waste time going out." Ryder sat down back to his seat. "You missed him a hour ago, why you ask?"

"He's been getting phone calls directed to him, that's why." CJ said with much shown dissatisfaction on his face. "They've been waking me up in the night. It's getting on my nerves."

Ryder snorted and then replied. "What? You surprised by that?" He stood up. "They've been calling ever since he got out now. From old friends to them damn news stations, to even his old army buddies."

"Then why doesn't he respond to them?" CJ asked his homie, not understanding it. "And why you strapped for?"

"First, that's for Naruto to answer." Ryder took a puff from his cigar and responded. "and secondly, somebody been painting over our hit up. A pizza parlor I got word off." He pulled out the pistol and cocked it.

*Click!*

"Teach the owner a lesson. He's fucking with Grove Street. You down?" Ryder asked putting the loaded 9mm pistol back underneath his shirt.

"I'm always down." CJ said, watching as Ryder picks up his cigar roll he prepared.

"Ahhh, yeah…" Ryder puts it up his ear and shrugs to CJ towards the door. "Let's go, bitch."

Idlewood

Inside one of the many stores of the Idlewood neighborhood, one tattoo parlor was seen still open as it was working a few hours after shift. Normally the owner wouldn't do that, but he was mostly a night working man.

"Almost finished, brother." The light skinned black tattoo artist said while finishing up the back of someone he was working on. "Just the last tail, and it is done."

The person on the table was Naruto, seen flat on his chest as he was waiting patiently for the parlor to finish.

"Take your time. I'm not in a hurry."

Having been here in Idlewood for a couple of hours now. Naruto was not bothered to be in the middle of Ballas turf that he knew was close to Ganton's GSF set. With him having made an appointment early on the day with Ricky, the owner of this parlor, he had called in to have it earlier than planned. To which Ricky said it was not a problem.

For a job to just finalize the ink, Naruto also called it in to have some time on his own - for both personal reasons, and to get his affairs in one line.

"So, you back on the block with the GSF I heard." Ricky, the man working on Naruto's back tattoo asked. "You planning something now? Retaliation?"

"No, I am not focused on that." Naruto responded as he countered. "Why do you ask that?"

"Word travels fast about you, Ruto." Ricky smirked as he cleaned the needle for a bit as he went back to work. "Said you pinned down two Ballas trying to shoot you, by ambushing them in their own turf and blasting their ride up with them in it."

"Oh that?" Naruto motioned it off. "They were looking for trouble when they tried to shoot up the funeral."

"Oh nobody refutes that, boys even admitted it that was their plan." Ricky said as he whipped a bit of the blood out from the skin. "Thing is now that folks are wondering what the ex-Marine is planning now he's back on the streets."

Once the needle was finally removed from Naruto's back. The tattoo artist was done.

"That's it, I am finished." Ricky said distancing himself from his client. "That' will be 100 dollars."

Reaching in his pocket, Naruto pulled out a few banknotes he handed over to Ricky, who noticed that it wasn't the amount he asked for.

"This is 200, I-"

"I need info, so that's my payment for it." Naruto said, asking up front. "Ryder told me you got some info on Big Poppa."

Ricky hearing this, took the second note and puts it away as he was careful.

"It's about that Madrigal girl you're looking for, right?" Ricky began. "Is that what you're planning to do? Kill that fool?"

Naruto just took his shirt on after having cleaned his back, with the ink already branded on him. He just listened to the tattoo parlor's intel as he gives it.

"Look, all I can say is that fool's got money to wash, lots of it. He makes a lot of it but he's trying to launder his cash in multiple fronts."

"He's making that much from selling crack?" Naruto asked, kind of surprised himself what he heard.

"Not only by selling dope. He also has his hands in selling stolen property, guns and even pimping…including that Madrigal girl you're looking for."

Naruto shook his head after hearing that.

"Teme…." He cursed in Japanese. "Where do I start? There's got to be something I can work with?"

"Start by going over there."

What the tattoo parlor was pointing at was The Well Stacked Pizza restaurant just across the road, that was still open with some customers seen taking orders at the counter.

"I'll go pay a visit."

Then just like that, a brown Picador was seen parking right close to the tattoo parlor's building.

Parking right across, Naruto walked outside as he was met with CJ coming out the car, not noticing Naruto stood behind him.

Naruto smiled, taking the moment to then go up slowly behind as he heard CJ speak.

"I'll just trim my hair a bit and-"

"BANG!"

"Hah!" CJ screamed as he jumped away from the sound, turning around and realizing it was Naruto and reacting. "Damn it, Ruto!"

Ryder couldn't help but laugh at it from his car seat as he watched Naruto scare him.

"What was that for?" CJ asked.

"To teach you a lesson, of course." Naruto slapped CJ across the face lightly. "Be glad it was me and not somebody who could've blown your brains out."

CJ groaned as he waved it off and walked off. "I'll be with Old Reece."

Left with only Ryder, Naruto leaned against the car as Ryder got out of the car and decided to go and lean next to him on the car.

*TCHK!*

Ryder ignited his lighter and lit up his cigar, taking a big drag from it that he released from his mouth with a big puff of smoke.

"Ah….that's the good shit…"

*Click!*

Turning his head slightly to his blond friend, Naruto was seen with a cocked gun in his hand, a small black Colt. 38 that he puts away underneath his pants.

Ryder straight up asked. "Where you get that from?"

"Got it from a friend who owes me…" Naruto said as looked over to the Stacks. "And I am intending to use it to remind some people…"

"You announcing your comeback? You just embarrassed some Ballas a while ago. "Smirking, Ryder smiled as he then asked. "Who's the next punk in line?"

And like that, Naruto explained his plan.

"We'll do this…"

…

*BZZZZZ*

"And done." Old Reece finished with the trimming machine. "Looking fresh, son."

Carl had just done a clean shave around his head and in only less than ten minutes got a fresh cut, removing the cloth off his chest as he then pulled out his wallet and raised up two ten dollar notes for the payment.

"Thanks, Reece. This enough?" Carl asked. "I ain't got enough."

"That will cover it." Reece replied while taking the money. "Have a good night, son."

"Sure, old man. Good night." CJ shrugged as he walked out towards the entrance and noticed something while watching through the window, nobody was waiting at the car.

"Hey Reece, you saw Ryder and Naruto?"

"I saw them walking across the street." Reece said getting to clean his floor. "Go ahead, I'll watch the car."

"Thanks." CJ said to the barber as he opened the door. "Have a good day."

Once walking out, Carl started running across the street and walking towards the pizza parlor where he already almost nobody inside the place.

"Where are they?"

The Well Stacked Pizza Co.

"Pizza's ready."

One pizza box was put on the stand by the lone male parlor as there were now only a few people left inside, with the parlor having just finished a phone call delivery, waiting for the person to show up.

It just then happened that CJ walked through the door and was seeing nobody else inside, not even his homies.

"Carl Johnson?"

Carl looked up and saw it was the pizza parlor who spoke shouted his family name.

"Yeah?"

"Your pizza is ready." The parlor responded and showed the box. "You called ten minutes ago, right?"

"Uhm… I did not."

The parlor frowned, feeling like he had been duped again by a prank call, his facial expression however changed when he recognized the person.

"Wait, Carl Johnson. Like in CJ-"

*Click!*

That was the sound of a pistol aimed directly to the side of the parlor's temple, having suddenly been caught off guard by Ryder popping out of nowhere with him holding the place out.

"Give up the money! This is a raid!"

"Ryder!" The parlor held his hands up. "Not this again!"

"It ain't me, fool!" Ryder protested, still holding the gun.

"No one else is that small, I feel sorry for your dad-"

*Click!*

That was the sound of another gun's safety being put off, and it was Naruto who then popped out of nowhere as he now had gotten behind the counter and was aiming the pistol to the man's skull.

"Going to finish that joke?"

"...Fuck."

"Because I know you're good with them, Kyle." Naruto said cracking a smirk. "Was Always the comedian back in the orphanage."

The parlor's eyes widened as he recognized that voice.

"Holy Shit, Naruto?"

"The one and only." Naruto then commanded him. "Now come to the back with me. We need to talk."

As the two old friends left in a very odd way, this however allowed Ryder to then jump over the counter, causing then CJ to look at him.

"Ryder, what are you doing?"

"Emptying the tills of course." Ryder said opening the registers and picking out the cash. "You go bring them hot boxes to the ride, will you?"

"What?"

"Move it already." Ryder told him off. "Nobody likes them cold."

…

*SMACK!*

With the door being open wide, Naruto pushed Kyle out of the building through the back door, with him now even holding a Wooden Ithaca 37 shotgun in the other hand, having just found it in the kitchen.

"Since when do you carry this around, Kyle?" Naruto asked, he checked the quality of the rifle and saw it was in good condition. "I heard Ryder robbed this place often, but this looks brand new."

"It is…"

Then looking down, Naruto noticed that Kyle was still on the ground, not making any effort of standing back up, he then started to notice something on the guy's arms - track marks.

Kyle looked up, and he met eye to see that Naruto was staring at the track marks, causing the pizza parlor to just look down further, in shame this time.

"I can explain…."

Later

"Let's eat."

With the pizza box opened up, showing one big cheese pizza that was now getting pieces picked out fast.

"Nice, warm pizza." Kendl said picking herself a slice.

In Sweet's house, CJ and Ryder had brought the pizza box inside and decided to feast a bit with Sweet and Kendl by sharing the box.

"You need to stop sticking up that pizza place, Ryder." Sweet told him, taking a bite from the slice he was eating. "Whoever is working there, he's good at making this. So you better tip him next time."

"Yeah, that goes for you too, Carl." Kendl told her brother off by getting something to drink. "I mean, you haven't even been here for a week."

"Hey, don't blame me, this was Ryder's idea." CJ pointed out to his friend. "I just entered and he started it with Naruto."

Ryder just waved it off as he was enjoying his slice while he was rolling up one of his cigars up. Smirking as he loved what he did: eating pizza and sticking up people.

"Where's Naruto anyway?" Sweet asked opening a can of soda. "You said he helped you out."

"I don't know, he said he's got some business to take care of." CJ said what he was told. "Was going to Idlewood last I saw him."

"Idlewood? What he got to do there?"

Idlewood

Meanwhile, down one of the dark alleys of the Idlewood neighborhood, a few guys were seen talking underneath a defective light pole that was flickering on and off constantly.

"Man, enjoy this shit, brothers." The black haven headed dealer who wore a leather jacket with jeans spoke to his friends, local Ballas members whom he handed a lit up joint.. "Courtesy from my man up in San Fierro, 100% good product."

"Hey, this makes me hungry." The first Balla in the purple shirt took the lit joint and took a stroke. "How about we hit up that pizza place? Dude who runs it is a fiend, right?"

It then happened that out of the corner of the alley, someone was seen walking with something behind his back, approaching the group that didn't notice it.

"That Grove bitch Ryder just robbed the place, from what I heard." Another Balla said, having taken a hit from the joint. "So no pizza for us tonight. Unless we go Downtown."

"Nah, I gotta stay here and wait for that fiend to show up, he behind on his tab." The leather jacket dealer said slightly irritated. "Bitch is owing me like two hundred now, but I plan to collect once he's here."

The two Ballas snickered and dabbed the dealer, goofing around as the man appeared from the shadows wearing a hoodie to cover his identity.

"Who are you?." The dealer scoffed at him, unimpressed by his appearance. "Lift your face up, boy."

It was then the man in the hoodie looked up, revealing himself to be Naruto as he glared at everyone, especially the dealer.

"Oh shit-"

*POP!*

The dealer had no time to react before he got shot in the chest by Naruto who held the still smoking pistol. As they heard the shot and saw the dealer fall to the ground, the two ballas ran away from the scene.

"Run!"

While the pair of Ballas were dispersing, Naruto crouched down to the dealer's side.

A clear shot in the chest was all that it took to kill the man before he hit the ground, the shock on his face was still visible as his eyelids were still up.

The sirens could be heard from afar, cueing Naruto to stand back up and disappear into the night, with no word being said, no drama being given, just efficiency.

And just like that, he was gone.

Few hours later

Grove Street

Back on the Grove, Carl was seen exiting his brother's home, as he was quite tired this time and now wanted to just go take a long sleep.

"Man, I'm stuffed." CJ said holding onto his stomach as he entered his home. He did not notice a blue Glendale with a white roof happened to then drive up the street.

Coming out was Big Smoke, looking like he was in a hurry as he rushed over to Sweet's house, getting noticed by some of the GSF guys who shouted out.

"Heyo Sweet! Big Smoke's here!"

Sweet came out with Ryder who was smoking, and greeted his friend. "Wassup fatman, where you have been?"

"Where's Naruto?"

"Hey hold on-"

"WHERE IS HE?!" Smoke raised his voice this time, looking around. "I got to know, man. Anyone seen him?"

"Nah, nigga, not since I have seen him in Idlewood." Ryder said holding his smoke. "Why you asking?"

"I'm asking because apparently he popped someone down in my block." Smoke explained to them. "Police all over the place."

"Wait what?" Sweet asked, not comprehending. "Who?"

"Local hustler named Warren who runs with the Ballas." Smoke replied to him. "Word is Naruto just approached the man when he was speaking to two other Ballas. Killed him with one shot before he even hit the ground. Ballas are pissed."

"Any reason why?" One GSF member asked. "Why he dropped him?"

"No, he just approached the man and popped one into the chest." Smoker reiterated. "He then walked off before anyone could even react."

…

"Damn, that's cold." This however caused Ryder to snicker. "Either the homie is trying to earn back his stripes or that nigga pissed him of or something."

"Either way, we stop talking about this now." Sweet said ordering around. "One-Time's going to come around disperse now and I'll see you all back."

"But-"

"You too, Smoke." Sweet repeated himself. "Now move it."

Shortly after the green crowd indeed was seen dispersing out as already some police choppers were seen in the air with the headlight about to hit Grove Street, possible linked to Idlewood or just the nightly routine.

Mulholland Drive

On one of the main roads of Los Santos crossed a motel that lived past its infamy from the old days that is named after the neighborhood that it was build in - the Jefferson Motel. Once used to home the newcomer in the 1920s to make it into the Vinewood Life. Now, it was used as a hotspot for any type of illegal activity that could be named and was done.

That was where Naruto had gone to now, seen walking through the hallways after he'd bribed the front desk worker, having asked for info from her about a particular customer.

One he was looking for and found the room.

*Knock!* *Knock!* *Knock!*

Knocking on the door multiple times, waiting for a response that didn't take long.

"I'm coming, hold on."

The door was opened by a young Latina woman that seemed to be in her early to mid 20s, she had long and wavy black hair that had stripes of different colors she dyed in. She had a body that was simply to die for with its shape and curves. The young lady was wearing shorts and a sports bra, as if she was getting ready for a run.

"Yes who-" The young woman began until she then recognizes the person with a gasp. "N-Naruto?"

Giving a genuine smile, the blond responded.

"That's me…good seeing you Isabela."

See you all later.