Alright everyone, after two failed attempts (I consider them failures) I believe now that I got the right start for writing my Naruto/GTA fanfic for the HD universe.

As far you all know, me and yoshi have been working, and at least trying to work, on 'The Whirlpool Gangster' but yoshi and I have different styles of writing, scripting and ways of working on a story. To which I don't blame him, we're both just different.

He now owns the TWG fanfic and continues it, while I just have the idea of a lifetime.

Because I tried in my 'Art of Theft' fic to implement both Liberty City and GTA V stories together at that attempt, it left with little satisfaction, to which I know found the answer.

This story will be the 1st out of the 2 part story of Naruto being in the HD universe of GTA, as I am planning to work on the GTA Liberty City part at first, to establish a good plot.

I personally liked the GTA IV/DLC's and Chinatown Wars stories, so I wanted to start over and write what I really like. So hopefully, I'll be given this chance by you guys.

Also, to clarify it to you all: in the note, I ONLY meant the GTA fic that was being adopted, all other stories, MHA, Star Wars, and all others are still active.

Guess its just not clear enough for you guys, but that is what I meant by. So no need to worry.

Enjoy the story, and peace!

A different

Pilot: Welcome to America

US Airspace

High above the Atlantic Ocean, in the clouds, an airplane can be seen flying through the calm white clouded and beautiful dark sky that it was going by to reach its destination, one that it had been traveling to for almost a full day. It was heading for the US, as the flight itself was a FlyUS plane that now was fully booked with many passengers in their seats. Including that of one person who was sitting by himself in the corner all by himself with three empty seats.

The person was a young man of considerable young age if you spotted him, nearly looking like he was merely a teen. Only he wasn't, he had just turned twenty-one years old as he had been that for almost a full month. Having short blonde hair under an black bandana around his forehead, he also was fairly tall for his age, having actually surpassed many of his old classmates, and was recognizable by his weird whisker-like scars on his cheeks and blueish eyes.

Staring through the window at the clouds was Naruto Uzumaki, a Japanese young man who's far away from home. On his way towards the United States of America.

His planning? On paper that he left behind, was to finalize his retirement/trying to get his last paycheck with the security contractor group he had been working with. But to his mind, he needed to leave Japan, after two weeks of returning from four years of work, he just couldn't get back like things used to be.

By the clothes Naruto was wearing, army boots with cameo military clothing that was for the desert, bad clothing given it was winter now to where he was going, with 2008 being the new year, makes him look like he was military, which would be halfway right, if you didn't see his patches. That of the Owl with red lightning bolts and the letters underneath spelling that said the following.

'Merryweather Security Consulting'

The infamous paramilitary mercenary group from the United States, a group with a history of military contracts around the world with a track record of vicious human rights violations and unjust enrichment and violence that it had exposed in its time in Iraq.

Yes, Naruto was with Merryweather Security in Iraq, where he was stationed for the first year he enlisted in, only having been 17 at the time, he was given permission to enlist to avoid time in prison for a crime he confessed, that of defense. He had seen several years of viciousness that had taken place in the country that had no boundaries. The bombings, shootings, funerals and cries were images he would never be able to get out of his mind.

Why did he then join a mercenary group that went to one of the world's most dangerous countries? That was something he himself was trying to figure out at this moment as his mind wasn't in the right place. As he didn't come from a bad background. But that one of pitiful circumstances, with his father having died when he was young, which was hard for a boy that age.

But when he came back to Japan, all of that somehow didn't seem to matter to him, and that was especially seen by his peers who tried to help him, but none of his friends, family or even former teachers who are befriended with his parents, couldn't really get through to him.

But it then turned for the worst, when his grandmother, Mito Uzumaki, who he had taken his maiden name from and who took him under her wing, had passed away, having gone through an illness.

He had gone to his grandmother's funeral, but had not said a word or even talked with anybody for the most part of the day, with all the former classmates, family friends and even distant family went on to pay their respects to the grieving Narumi, who was at her grandmother's side of the open casket.

While Narumi was in the center of attention, it was a weird sight for anybody who would've noticed, that Naruto was sitting by himself in a corner, observing the mourners and having that same unbroken face of his that many had seen on him ever since he returned.

Many had avoided Naruto for certain but understandable reasons that could be named up, some wanted to give him space, others were afraid. It was not that he blamed them for distancing from him, as he wanted to be alone for the moment. Yet only two persons had approached him on that day, being his old sensei Iruka Umino, and his childhood's brother Itachi, who filled in for his brother Sasuke.

Being glad at least that his sister was being looked after and comforted, it had almost caused a smile on his face until somebody had then made a stupid move.

A car outside suddenly made a loud noise from engine failure, caused Naruto to quickly react out of nowhere and suddenly got himself into a fully prepared combat position, freezing up in his state there in the middle of a crowded funeral hall.

He stood there in that same position for almost an half hour, with those around him trying to calm him down and tell him everything's fine, but no words of comfort managed to get through the hardened young man. Not even the pleas of Narumi and the distressing sounds that were coming from the children like Mirai, were unable to break through Naruto's mind.

It only ended when the elderly man and war veteran from the Second World War, Sarutobi Hiruzen had approached Naruto and somehow managed to get him out of the attack with words from a fellow soldier in arms.

That attack - caused everything to go more downhill for Naruto once he was being brought away to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which reached towards his contractors - Merryweather Security Consulting.

What did they do? They fired him, on the grounds of him having refused the mandatory counseling sessions that the company 'claimed' they ordered for him to attend despite his protests that he was given the scheduled date to attend the funeral. Losing his only source of income had led to a downward spiral. And that, made him drift away, now on a plane towards the United States, having left nothing behind but a letter to his sister, leaving his past life…and cutting ties for the time being.

'Attention everyone, this is your pilot speaking. The flight of Hamburg to Liberty City is close to coming to an end. Please be known that the weather now is snowfall and that it is -15 degrees Celsius once we land in Francis International Airport.'

Hearing that, it meant Naruto had to buckle back up as he then grabbed for the woolen blue scarf that was knitted by his mother when he was young, a present he deeply valued. As this was the only thing left of her before she went missing years ago.

"Mommy, look!" A child, sitting a row in front of him with a fur hat, was gleefully pointing out the window.

There it was, the city with lights reaching the heights, Liberty City. Where he'll start his new beginning, hopefully.

"Well, here it goes."

Francis International Airport

An hour after the plane had landed and got to a terminal. Many of the passengers began leaving the plane with their baggage, with the kids being more than happy to run around after a tiresome trip, and with the parents being all too happy to see their children running to the checking area.

Naruto came out last, as he carried only one piece of baggage that contained his clothes, he bypassed the stewardess, who said something upon seeing Naruto in his camo pants.

"Thank you for your service, sir."

That line literally caused Naruto to stand still and turn his face directly to the stewardess who had this smile on her face that almost seemed forced. God, that smile made him angry as his eyes clearly showed it.

The woman's smile turned to that of surprise and that of slight fright.

That pretty much allowed Naruto to then walk past her and go towards the check-ins so he could leave this airport.

Once at the check-in, Naruto was waiting for the security guard to see his passport, which he luckily could do now since there was no line.

"Welcome to the United States, Mr. Uzumaki." The guard told Naruto as he handed him back his passport. "Have a nice time."

Naruto nodded to the guard and walked next to the guard's box and went straight for the exit. Where he was then met with the cold wind. Walking through the shuffle doors, he saw the buildings of the city as high as it was, with snow flocking down without an end, as the view was actually an admirable one for someone who's never visited the city.

Now, he only needed to find a cab-

"HEY, YOU!"

Hearing that, Naruto heard the demanding voice and turned around to see two people approach him, both dark skinned people wearing US Air Force work blue camo outfits, with the woman with red hair, which was weird, seeing that dyed hair in the Air Force was strongly discouraged, let alone prohibited.

"Yeah, you!" The redheaded woman angrily pointed at him. "With desert camo, stop!"

"Oh, God…" Naruto groaned. Seeing where this was going. "The Chair Force…"

"WHAT DID YOU SAY!" The redhead black woman shouted in anger. "OI! WE'RE A PROUD BRANCH OF THE US MILITARY UNLIKE YOU!"

Naruto looked at her annoyed. "What the hell did I do? I'm just standing here."

"Excuse me."

Naruto and the redhead's confrontation was temporarily eased down by the presence of another Air Force servicewoman who's also in uniform, this time in a formal one. With a captain's two bar insignia on her uniform. A blonde woman with a more calm approach towards him.

"Please excuse my subordinate, she's a bit of...a hot head." The woman spoke with a pause before continuing. "But our concern is that of your uniform."

"What about my uniform?" Naruto asked, looking down at his desert camo. "It looks fine, what about it?"

"I do not believe you're a service member of our armed forces." The woman stated. "I don't believe you should be wearing this and are on grounds of Stolen Valor."

Naruto's mind then immediately clicked to what this woman meant, they thought he was some imposter because they didn't see the badges underneath his mother's scarf.

"Oh this? Lemme explain," Naruto began. "First, I do not work for the Pentagon, I'm a gun-for-hire who just came back. I know the uniform looks similar to those in Iraq-"

"Doesn't matter! Your uniform is a complete disregard to the men and women of the Army." The black woman with red hair abruptly interrupted and threatened. "I suggest you remove it or be detained for questioning!"

This caused unfortunately a scene in front of the entrance of the airport, with even some of the homeless seen staring at what the situation was about, while the police were just observing from a distance, waiting if things were getting confrontational.

This however was in the eyes of the two other Air Force members, out of proportion, with the only male member in the cameo outfit, trying to defuse the situation.

"Karui, please. There's no need to-"

"Stay out of it, Omoi!" Karui was not done as she wanted to continue. "As for you-"

"Listen, woman," Naruto clearly was getting annoyed by this person and wasn't going to let this sit down. "As far as I can see, you're not an MP, and second of all, I'm not taking orders from someone who's closest experience in combat was that from a computer game, so back off!"

"Why you little fucking shit, you possibly are just some adrenaline junkie cowboy-"

"STAFF SERGEANT KARUI, THIS IS NOT HOW AN OFFICER OF THE US AIR FORCE CONDUCTS THEMSELVES!" The blonde officer shouted to her subordinate. "Either you rephrase yourself or back down!"

Karui did not reply and only stepped a few feet back as the blonde officer then took up the questioning.

"Now, let me go back to the un-"

"No, I want to respond to her response, what she tried to say." Naruto interrupted the woman. "If that's okay with you…"

"Captain, Captain Samui."

"Good, because I have something to say to her." Naruto said removing the scarf from his neck, showing there and then the Merryweather badge on his collar, clearly showing he was indeed a merc, with his theory just been proven in front of the Air Force people.

"As you can see, and as I told you, I've been in Iraq. And you can check on my record, because no offense, you and the rest of the Air Force wouldn't know about that, you're all up in the sky with your Drones and your Raptors."

"Screw you!" Karui responded. "Unlike you I have actually shot someone!"

"So have I! I bet you weren't even in boot camp when we took Fallujah, TWICE!" Naruto shouted out, clearly stating what he went through. "Both battles! From April to May and November to December!"

The outburst got the onlookers, that were only a few, to realize what he was talking about, and he looked sincere in what he stated as Naruto clearly had reached the point of being beyond tested.

"You were in Fallujah?" The Air Force male questioned. "Really?"

"Wanna see proof?" Naruto began pulling his desert jacket off, in the cold. "I'll show you proof!"

Samui spoke. "Wait, wait, You don't need-"

"Here it is!" Naruto pulled his shirt off and showed a nasty looking scar that was left to his stomach, which caused a few gasps and surprising reactions from the small crowd.

Omoi uttered out in shock. "Damn…"

"Yes, damn! Got this from a car bomb in central Fallujah, December 04' If you wanna know." Naruto then pulled up his shirt more and revealed another scar over his chest. "And this is a gunshot from an AK when I was stationed in Ramadi 08' for security."

"Wait, 08? but-" Karui then suddenly made an horrific realization, "Don't tell me you were-"

"Yes, woman. I was in Iraq for 4 years, for 4 FUCKING years!" Naruto spoke louder as he was now beyond pissed. "While you were learning how to work on a computer, I was seeing small kids' their limbs being torn apart by car bombs and hearing gunfire going off on a daily basis."

The silence was clear, as nobody dared to speak up to Naruto's clearly stressed out moment as he was speaking things that he had experienced in Iraq.

"You don't know how lucky you are," Naruto was now squatting over the snowy floor as he was reminiscing on some horrific things he saw. "You don't know what it feels like to be blasted away once by a car bomb, or even being forced to park outside a mortuary where family members were picking up their deceased every day, taking whatever remnants they could find."

The graphic description he was suddenly giving out in the public while not taking it to anybody's account, was a clear sign that this young man was having a bad moment, and the Air Force knew what was happening.

"The mothers wailing over bodies of their children, the fucking screams for mercy, the open carcasses of them…." Naruto said until he then stood in the same position.

He was fading out, this was a bad signal.

"Omoi, help me."

"Right."

She approached the merc and grabbed the cameo jacket and pulled it over Naruto's body, while Omoi went on to clear the area for the moment, all the while Samui tried to calm the fatigued man and tried to help him.

"Mister, what's your name-"

"Sergeant Naruto Uzumaki - former Merryweather Security Consulting contractor." Naruto's lips suddenly muffled it out like it was being typed out of his mind as he was still staring down "I just got laid off the other week."

"Wait, without therapy?"

"I was supposed to be getting my first session this week, but I was had to attend my grandmother's funeral when I got my very first attack, at the funeral home-"

Omoi shook his head. "Ah, nah…"

He had one at his grandmother's funeral?

"No need, no need to explain. Just calm down," She patted him on the shoulder before turning to Karui. "Get him a taxi."

"Right." Karui nodded.

"Over here!"

The Air Force people turned over to the voice, seeing a man in a winter coat waving, as he got out of his black Esperanto that he was seen driving.

"I'm a taxi driver, I can take him." The man spoke.

"Your car doesn't-"

"I am a taxi driver, here, I'll show you." The person pulled out a small card from his jacket and gave it to Karui. "You can check it for yourself, it is legit."

Karui indeed then read the card and turned to her friend.

"It's real, he's a real taxi."

"Okay, Omoi!"

"Right!" Omoi stepped next to Naruto's side as Samui then grabbed for Naruto's other arm as they were going to try to help him up, as he was not resisting them touching him.

"Three. Two. One. GO!"

They both pulled him up and began taking him to the open back seat of the black Esperanto as Karui grabbed for Naruto's bag and quickly put it in the trunk.

"Easy, easy with his head." Samui said, putting Naruto into the seat and buckling his seatbelt before turning to the taxi driver. "Can you take him anywhere-"

"No problem, I'll drive him anywhere he needs to be." The driver spoke in an accent that was not known to the woman. "And no need to worry about payment, this one's for free."

The trunk slammed down by Karui. "His baggage is in."

Samui closed the door and spoke. "Mr. Uzumaki. We're sorry."

….

"Please, understand us, we apologize for the actions we caused you. But we will make sure to repay it to you in any way possible."

Naruto didn't respond immediately but instead turned his face towards the formally dressed Air woman and his eyes blinked.

"Okay…"

"I'm moving."

The Esperanto then moved, moving out of Francis International Airport, after an heavy night that just took place, it was for the better.

The drive in the black Esperanto taxi was a silent one for a solid few minutes on the highway. With the ride being silent as even the radio was not even turned on.

Naruto however didn't mind as he was seen staring through the window out to the water they were driving past, it gave him some calm that he could really appreciate.

"Mister, can I ask you something?" Naruto began asking. "Where are we actually?"

"You've never been to Liberty City, haven't you?" The driver with the accent asked before answering up. "We're on the Broker-Dukes Expressway for now, and I am driving to Hove Beach at the moment, if that is what you want to know. I hope that's not a problem."

"No, it's not. Thank you." Naruto politely replied before offering. "If you want I can pay you-"

"Don't, please." The driver declined before the sentence was finished. "This one's on the house, but I want to ask you, what's your plan?"

"For doing here? To be honest with you, I have no clue." Naruto admitted while holding his hand over his head. "I was planning on going tomorrow to the Merryweather office of LC to try and get my final check before they fully write me off, its office is in Algonquin."

"I hate to tell you this, but that might not be possible for the time being." The driver broke the news to him and told him. "Because of the threats that have been going around lately, its not that easy to cross bridges between Algonquin and the mainland that easily. You'll need some luck to get over them."

"Chikushō…" Naruto cursed in his native tongue as he laid his head back against the seat and continued. "So I'm stuck, now. That's my fucking luck."

"You didn't seem to have planned this through, haven't you?" The driver tried to lighten up the mood. "Perhaps that is one of life's challenges you're going through?"

Naruto shook his head. "No, I haven't. And again my apologies for being a-"

"Please again, don't apologize to me, I understand where you're coming from, or at least what you've experienced, to a degree." The driver told him as he kept his eyes on the road. "You're not the only one who's seen the fucked up business that's war."

Naruto's head raised up when the driver mentioned it.

"Where are you from?"

"I was born in what used to be Yugoslavia, but is now known as Serbia where my village is." The driver revealed his background a bit and went on. "I personally haven't fought in the war, but my cousin has. He's still in Europe but I heard he's doing fine for now."

Naruto then carefully asked the driver. "Is that why you're giving me this free ride?"

The driver then proceeded to answer.

"Perhaps, or maybe because you look like a good guy who just happened to be lost in the world, and I can relate to that." The driver then thought up something. "Actually, you planning on staying in Liberty City?"

Hearing where this was going, Naruto honestly was thinking about that question and decided to respond to the man who's been helping him.

"I got nothing else, so yeah."

"Then how about you work for me as a cab driver? It may not look like it, but I actually am the owner of my own cab depot - Bellic Enterprises."

"You own a cab depot?" Naruot asked with a raised eyebrow. "You must like your work if you're working late."

The driver smiled. "Well, I am working overtime to earn some extra money. This is America of course, the Land of Opportunity."

He paused before re-offering. "What do you say? Would you like to have the job?"

….

Naruto decided to take on the offer. "Why not, count me in as hired. Mr. Bellic. I can get to exploring this land of opportunity."

"You can just call me Roman, young man. No need for the formalities." The now identified Roman said with a smile looking back through the mirror. "May I know what your name is?"

"Naruto, Naruto Uzumaki." The blonde introduced himself. "Fresh from the plane out of Japan."

"Hahahaha, a fellow immigrant, I knew I'd like you." Roman smiled as he was happy. "Welcome to America."

The car just drove down to Broker, in just a few moments, Naruto had already started his unplanned break in the United States.

A break might help.

….6 months later

The break had turned into a new start.

Having now stayed in the US for almost half-a-year, Naruto now had settled into Liberty City. he had been making inroads and having gotten himself into the LC life as much as possible.

Now driving in one of Roman's Taxi's black Esperantos, he had just finished a full night shift, now on his way back to the cab depot close to Hove Beach.

And it wasn't like he hadn't changed, Naruto had within the car, he personally drove with some decorations and personal belongings. Some classic Japanese stuff that kept him close to his culture:

Like a pair of Japanese incense sticks that were lit on, a small car pendant that was hanging, on it was that of the Kanji 'Family' and 'Remembrance' 'Renewal' that helped him move forwards. There were a few tokens from his time in Iraq, including a small sculpture of a camel, actually a sculpture of multiple camels carved of actual bone, and even a few CD's of Arabic music that laid on top of Japanese CD's.

But the most precious picture was that of himself, his sister and his late parents, all of them together, from better times. A family picture of them at a picnic.

Naruto couldn't help but smile every time he took a peak at that picture.

"Arigato."

Sitting inside the car, he wore of course some jeans and a pair of sneakers that were both black and orange, being that his colors, he also wore just a black pocket shirt with a Japanese styled bandana that mainly was around his forehead, not touching his hair.

The car stopped, right where it needed to stop.

Express Car Service, or just Roman's depot, was located on the corner of Cisco Street and Iroquois Avenue, with it just being a foot away from his apartment in Hove Beach, the business was laid just in South Broker.

Once stepping out, Naruto saw that inside the depot, one of his colleagues was seen working on the car's engine that was giving white smoke. The man's name was Mohammed, an South-East guy from either Pakistan, or India or even Bangladesh, he was kind of an-

"Dog lover!" The colleague shouted as he kicked the car a few times in pure frustration-

CRACK!

He kicked it so hard that the front got slightly damaged with scratches. Causing him to hold the hair on his head.

"Ah…fuck it." The colleague then grabbed his stuff inside the black taxi and then walked off, leaving the cab unlocked.

Watching all of this, Naruto could only shake his head out of disappointment, knowing fully well this wasn't the first time he left the car a bit damaged.

"Mohammed, you stupid idiot…giving me more work."

Car Depot: Office

*Triiiiing!*

The ringing phone was then picked up by someone who quickly answered it.

"Bellic Enterprises, what can I do for you?"

The person who answered the phone call was a Puerto Rican woman, who herself was quiet in her late 20's and was working as a secretary for Roman's cab company. Originally born in Puerto Rico but having grown up in South Bohan, her name was Mallorie Bardas.

"Yes, of course." Mallorie was answering the person's questions and was seen writing down details for what seemed to be an appointment of picking up. "Tomorrow, afternoon. Of course Mr. Parkens, have a good day."

Once she hung the phone back, Naruto came in through the door.

"Oh hey, Naruto." Mallorie said happily to her colleague. "Finished the shift?"

"Hey Mall." Naruto smiled back, having befriended Mallorie very fast in his first few days, she was a nice person. "Yeah, I just did. But I'd like to have Mohammed's car for a moment."

Mallorie's smile then dropped with her eyes rolling. "Is that who was cursing in the back?"

"Do I need to answer that?" Naruto asked with a raised eyebrow.

"...No, of course not." Mallorie sighed as she went to continue typing on the computer. "I don't understand why you are covering up for that moron."

"He is a moron, sure. But he's also the only one working." Naruto reminded her that Mohammed had a wife who's a good person. "Also the fact he's got like six kids, I don't want to be the bastard to get him fired."

It was in fact true, that Mohammed had six children…all out of wedlock, as he was unfaithful to his wife as he often would brag about cheating with tourists, he still claimed to love her. Even when he was a bit of a dickhead, he still hasn't laid off his responsibilities to his children whose child support bills he managed to pay. It was probably Mohammed's one redeeming factor.

"Okay then, I'll call Jermaine for repairs, sparing you the long line." Mallorie said getting the phone number.

"That's good to know." Naruto said putting his keys at the counter and grabbing for Mohammed' ones, he looked around. "Where's Roman?"

"He's probably still busy on the phone outside." Mallorie said, pointing her thumb backwards while typing on the computer. "Has been speaking for a half hour now. I don't know who but he's really excited."

"Mallorie! Naruto! Great news!" An overwhelmingly happy Roman marched into the room with the phone in his hand, looking very ecstatic. "Guess what? Guess!"

Naruto and Mallorie turned glances to one another, before turning back to the Serb. Not going to give an answer, they both shook their heads, not like it diminished the happiness.

"My cousin's coming to America!" Roman shouted happily. "I just spoke through the phone with him! He's on his way to Liberty City!"

This news got the two a bit surprised when he mentioned that. With Roman speaking very, like very little about his family or his home, and now he talks about a family member coming over here.

Mallorie questioned. "You mean like on vacation?"

"No, no, no. Like coming here to live. Start a new life!" Roman replied happily before turning to Naruto. "Remember when I mentioned him, Naruto? The one who was in the army."

"Niko, right?" Naruto guessed. "Guy's name is Niko."

"Yes! Niko Bellic, my cousin. We grew up together, basically like brothers!" Roman exclaimed before calming down a bit. "Anyway, he's on a ship called the Platypus, it's arriving at the Liberty City docks, at midnight."

"Wait, wait, wait. Tonight?" Mallorie asked, a bit surprised at the timing.

"Yeah, apparently he's been on the boat for months, but now he told me they left Europe a while back and they're on their way to East Hook docks at this moment, of course they'll need to come at night to avoid the coast guard." Roman explained as it was clear he was entering the country illegally. "But man! I am excited to see him after all these years!"

Naruto and Mallorie couldn't help but be happy for Roman as he looked genuine, with them both knowing how he had a close relationship with Niko, with him being the only family member mentioned more than once.

"So that's why I need a favor. Naruto." Roman turned to his best employee. "Are you free for tonight? I'd like to introduce you to him, and help me pick him up."

Kind of a weird request given that Roman himself can drive, Naruto went on.

"Sure, but can I ask why?"

"Well, I am so excited." Roman pulled out from his back, a wrapped up bottle of an alcohol beverage. "That I've already started drinking."

Both equally groaned as they saw Roman taking a big drink from it, much to the despise of the others.

"So I'm just your designated driver, is that it?" Naruto asked the most likely drunken Bellic.

To which Roman happily was obliged to answer that was not for now.

"But by tonight, I certainly am." He laughed before walking towards the exit. "I'll see you one hour before midnight, good day!"

Once Roman then left, it was then the turn for Naruto and Mallorie to laugh loudly, unable to contain it for very long, they then exchanged words.

"Okay, okay." Mallorie began. "How much are you willing to bet that he's been sending letters about living the high life? With a sports car, condos and so forth?"

"Given it's Roman, I think he has." Naruto agreed, almost whipping a tear away from his eye from having laughed too hard. "You can say whatever you want about Roman, but if there was a competition of shit talking, you know he would win it."

"That, we both can agree on." Mallorie smiled before noticing the time. "If I were you, you'd let that car get worked on now, Jermaine's still on shift."

"Ah yes. I'm heading out." Naruto said, waving her off. "Later Mallorie."

"Bye."

Later

Native Engines

Native Engines, that was the name of a Pay 'n' Spray repair shop that was located on Gibson Street, bordering both the Hove Beach and Outlook neighborhood, with it directly laying on the south side of Outlook Park.

The repair shop as usual, was a busy spot for anyone who needed either a quick fix for their ride, or if you'd pay a little on the side, a different color and number plates for whenever you had a problem with the law. With the latter being especially targeted for Liberty City's underground.

But for now, Naruto was just here for a quick fix, as he was waiting outside and leaning against a parked car while smoking a cigarette, a habit he picked up perhaps for the bad, but for now was a helpful one for the moment as the other habit was still a bit legal, and he would need to visit a friend.

"Got a lighter?"

Turning his head, Naruto was met with one of the mechanics of Native Engines, an African American man, who he had previous dealings with in the past few months, and was a client of Roman.

"Sure." Naruto offered the lighter as he lightened up the end of the man's cigarette. "How's the repair, Jermaine? Think it will be done for today?"

"A bump like that? Pffft, it's already done, fool." Jermaine replied to Naruto while leaning against the car with him to have small talk. "My boys are just doing a double check, but for the rest, in ten minutes you'll be free to go."

Jermaine Andrews, a Broker native, known mechanic and community man, was one of the first fares Naruto had been given in the past, and he was a pretty alright guy. Given also his background of criminality:

At first, like anyone else the assumption was that Jermaine was involved in drugs, but then you'd be stupid, because Jermaine wasn't. He instead was into the carjacking game: stealing and dis-ambling parts of stolen cars for a quick making scheme.

"Well that's a relief." Naruto said after puffing out smoke from his mouth. "What's the pay?"

"Nah, it's on me. No sweat about it." Jermaine waved it off. "But tell me, what have you been into lately? Heard you were working hard lately, doing night shifts like that."

"Ah, it's nothing, just doing more overtime to get some extra cash." Naruto replied while glancing at the passing cars. "My last attempt at getting that Merryweather payment was refused in the court. Even when I paid the stinking lawyer. Because I 'overstayed my stay' in this country while applying for a visa."

Just two weeks ago, the last appeal for Naruto to get the last payment from his time as a military contractor for Merryweather, was refused on the basis of Naruto being in the middle of his application of trying to become a citizen, reasoning that he'd be using the money for uncertain and perhaps illegal activities.

"Fuck them, man. Government always wants to protect asshole corporations." Jermaine spoke his opinion. "But let's not focus on that, what have you been doing lately then?"

"Just working, chilling, and sometimes just searching for a new place, I guess." Naruto admitted as he had searched for a new apartment to move in."

Naruto simply chuckled and continued.

"I'm honestly not planning on having Roman being my landlord and the cockroaches being the only company at home." Naruto said with a light shudder. "Hate those things."

"Yuck, don't remind me." Jermaine said, before going next. "How about that visa, any progress?"

"Because of the trial, it all stalled, but my paperwork is done." Naruto puffed out again as he was almost done. "Just waiting for the next step, hopefully it gets done quickly."

Then there was a moment of silence for both smokers, before Jermaine then mentioned something.

"What about your folks back home? You said there's a sister, right?" He asked up, knowing a bit of it. "They responding?"

This time, Naruto found it difficult to respond quickly, and took a moment before he could.

"I've only sent one letter, that was over a month ago." Naruto began, a bit ashamed really, having let them in the cold for this long. "Told them I live here now, what my job is, my friends…took a new start. That's it."

Jermaine chuckled as he mentioned. "Without mentioning that you haven't applied for a visa, and now being an illegal immigrant?"

"That a problem for you?" Naruto smiled.

"Half the city is run by them, man." Jermaine laughed at it. "And as far I know, they'll be here for centuries to come. So no, I have no problem with them, so long they pay me what I offer them."

"A true American indeed." Naruto jokingly stated.

"Hey, J!"

The two turned their heads to one of Jermaine's colleagues as he gave the okay sign. Watching as the car was being driven out by one of the others.

"Looks like your car's fixed." Jermaine said, dabbing Naruto's fist. "Good looking out, man."

"Thanks, I'll stay in touch." Naruto stated before hopping back inside the cab. Dropping and smashing the cigarette with his feet. "And stay out of trouble."

"Yo!"

The cab drove off the driveway and honked once before going down, with Jermaine rejoining his colleagues after smashing his own smoke down.

"Back to work boys, Liberty City cars don't rest."

Hove Beach

The sun had already gone to settle down, as the orange sky was present for now even with the temperature going colder, and sitting down at one of those benches close to the foreclosed carnival to admire the sight. After he had delivered Mohammed' ride back at the depot, Naruto had found himself some time off free, and he decided to take that time to be alone at the moment to have some peace.

Peace, a luxury he unfortunately couldn't afford, not with the money he had earned. Especially with the money that came from 'unclean' ways.

Pulling up the sleeves of his shirt, visible scars and bruises that looked fresh. All of that he gained from the one income he barely talked about with anybody from his friends.

He had been fighting in some local cage fighting rings, the ones that were being organized underground and that didn't hold it at one place at the time, and the fights often ended in one of the opponents either knocked out or disabled beyond repair.

Or they would end up dead, but that would be a blessing.

Of course, Naruto knew not to make himself a big shot in those leagues, but would still be holding enough long to get some cash, which often meant by taking the hit once the stakes were too high for him to lose.

Losing wasn't always a preferable option, but getting too much attention was the worst. But that wouldn't always be the case - with some of the betters.

Once he got approached by a few angry Albanians in the middle of the ring, Naruto was forced to defend himself. Especially by the one who held a machete knife at his head, claiming he lost the money unfairly because of one fight. Naruto ruthlessly kicked the crap out of all of them.

And worst - he left one of them with a permanent disability that was easy to spot. Not that Naruto really regretted that

Of course, that incident forced him to be 'suspended' from the fights for the time being, or at least until the tensions between the two parties were eased down, to avoid any further escalation.

Or in other words, one of the others to be either dead or locked up.

*Triiiing!*

The phone in his pocket was going off, and once he saw the unrecognizable number, he answered it directly.

"Yes?"

"Naruto, shit! Where are you?" A familiar voice came over. "Its me, Tony, I just heard you're stuck on Broker, again!"

"Tony, it's been a while." Naruto remarked. "And also, yeah, bridges are closed again, plus, I was a bit busy with my visa papers."

"Don't tell me you're still having problems with that? Stupid fucking bureaucrats!" Gay Tony, the multi-nightclub owner was heard yelling. "I got a good muscleman and driver for once, and it happens to be a undocumented immigrant who's getting screwed over by these moronic politicians and this damn mayor who's sucking cock of some aerobic's trainer!... Sorry if you heard that."

"None taken." Naruto said with a sigh. "Guess I'll just have to wait until the bridges are open again."

"And let you out there? Nu-uh, young man. Gay Tony does not forget about his friends. I'm going to make some calls about that immigration status of yours, okay? Just don't you dare think I'm gonna let you down in some rathole."

"Still driving my cab, and living in the attic, but it's not that hard." Naruto remarked.

"Well, I'm not having it. I got somebody who owns a little real estate, so don't think I'm leaving you hanging there."

"Thanks for the input, Tony, but-"

"Look, you've been good to me and Lou. We'll be looking for you when the bridges open up. Ciao!" Tony said before hanging up before Naruto could really say anything in return.

Then noticing the time on his phone's screen, he stood right back up and ran up towards the parking lot.

"Damn, I need to get that car before its out."

The Sea

Off the coast, a freight ship was seen going through the sea lane that it was following to reach its destination. The ship's name was The Platypus, a ship that had travelled around the world, having on its ship immigrants from the Far Eastern corners like China and Thailand, to even European and North African nations like Greece and Egypt.

And it was a certain person on that ship who was in his cabin , laying the bunk that he'd been sleeping in for the past few months, in the same clothing he hadn't changed in for a few days now. As he wore some running pants, a turtleneck, a zip up windbreaker, and a brown coat, which he could easily move in, given he used to do back then when he was in the war…

Niko Bellic was his name, and as a former member of the Serb faction in the Yugoslav Wars that had occurred in the 90's, he now had turned to a new page in his life and went on to take the word of his cousin's letters, and announce he'd move to Liberty City.

It had been ten solid years since he saw Roman, the Bellic was honestly glad to see his own cousin back after they split up in the beginning of the conflicts. All of it had taken a toll on Niko, for the worse.

His old village was partly destroyed leaving nothing but missing neighbors and dead family members. All his friends from the village who had served alongside with had died fighting in a war they were too young and stupid to understand, having cost it the man's many friendships that he lost in a single day of fighting.

"Niko."

The Serb moved his head up from his thoughts, and saw that it was one of the few people he befriended with on board, a fellow aspiring immigrant who was from Egypt.

"Hossan. Something wrong?"

"Nothing, nothing serious." Hossan, being optimistic as usual, smiled, entering Niko's cabin. "I came to tell you we're two hours away from the States, we're almost there."

Niko sat up after hearing this. Even when he didn't show it, the Serbian man was glad that this long-overdue journey was finally coming to an end.

"So this is it…"

"Yeah, our new lives, coming up close." Hossan said and added. "I actually came down here to ask if you wanted to get something to eat. One last meal?"

Thinking about it, one last meal on this drifting piece of rust wouldn't hurt as he was already used to the food that the kitchen staff served.

"Sure, why not?" Niko's accent kicked in with a shrug. "Let's end our journey with terrible food."

Mess hall

Inside the Platypus was of course a relatively large area where the occupants of the ship were seen eating prepared meals by the kitchen staff of the ship.

The hall itself wasn't that much crowded, as it was only half full. Niko and Hossan were sitting by themselves at a table that was in the middle of the hall.

"I'm looking forward to it, man. Liberty City! It's beautiful this time of year!" Hossan said excitedly as he was eating his stew. "When I make enough money, I'll take a day off and visit the Statue of Happiness for the day. Just take it all in."

"All just to see a statue?" Niko joked while trying not to look at the food too much. "If I wanted to see it, I'd just buy a picture."

"Niko, it's also about the principle. Guys like us are seeking the American Dream. Even the women." Hossan remarked at his friend's comment before mentioning something up. "Say, you noticed that quiet one…the one with the blue hair."

"The blue-haired dyed one? Yeah, I have seen her." Niko said before asking."What about her? Because she hasn't been going out of her cabin much. Like many others if I can mention."

Not everyone had been sociable on the journey. To which Niko could understand, as some of the travelers were young people, with some even being women who were rumored to have escaped certain fates that he could clearly think of were unimaginable for the innocent mind.

Like many of them, the moment the ship would reach its destination, they would disembark and go into the city without a second thought in their mind.

"Well, I've been asking around about her," Hossan began taking another spoonful of the stew to lift. "And I found out she was into some deep shit with some organized crime back in Japan, like those Yakuzas or something. And she just left for some reason."

"Who knows what it was." Niko responded. "It's her privacy, and I don't tend to snoop into other people's privacy, so long as they don't go looking into mine's."

"Niko, she was a Yakuza affiliate." Hossan reminded his friend. "Yakuza are serious people, like the Triads for the Chinese, or the Russians. What do you think made her leave?"

"Probably something she's haunted by. Which wouldn't be the first thing to happen." Niko said as the ship's chef put two plates down for them. "What's this?"

"Cake to celebrate our arrival. Made a little too much." The chef said before leaving them. "Enjoy it."

"Chocolate cake. Oh, that's just classic." Hossan said before scarfing it down. "It's been a crazy ride. With the Chinese smugglers. Remember our stop in Hong Kong?"

"Don't remind me." Niko said, rolling his eyes as he toke a small sip from his cup of water. "The sooner they're gone the better."

Remembering how the Chinese were stalling the ship on multiple stops, from Hong Kong to Thailand, they would load up some unopened crates and a lot of cars into the cargo holds. With them being the least enjoyable people to travel with.

*Clack!* *Clack!*

The clack of steps got their attention as in the room came the woman Hossan spoke about.

Despite her average height, she had an air that made her off-putting. She had pale skin, short, straight blue hair with a bun, grayish-amber eyes with lavender eyeshadow, a black labret piercing, and a light blue paper flower clipped to her bun.

The woman wore a long, black cloak with red clouds, a red interior, and a chin-high collar. It covered her body and one could see her black combat boots. She quietly takes several plates with food and left the mess hall without even having spoken a word.

"... Swear to Allah, she creeps me out." Hossan said, turning his head back to the food. "Thank God we're getting off the boat."

Niko just continued to eat the cake, as he planned to go then back to his cabin and prepare all of his belongings, as the voyage would only be a hour away from being finished.

Only one hour, and he'll be off this boat.

East Hook Bay

One hour before midnight. And Roman was late, as Naruto was alone at the docks with the Esperanto taxi of his, on the phone with Mallorie who was already on her way home to Bohan by now.

"Seriously Mallorie, I'm standing here by myself, and he's running late." Naruto spoke over the phone while leaning against the car. "Has he told you where he was?"

"Sorry, Naruto. But I am afraid that you're stuck for there now." Said Mallorie over the phone with a sigh. "Honestly, by now we both know where he's at by now."

"Gambling his earnings away…" Naruto guessed, suppressing the urge to facepalm himself.

Roman's addiction to spending his money away on card games and online poker wasn't an unknown fact to both Naruto and Mallorie, as it was clear by now what he would do half the time when he was unsupervised, causing some concerns from the both of them, as Roman had lost an substantial amount of money to his addiction that resulted to him having debts.

Debts that were better non-existent.

"He'll be there, for sure. Just wait there, okay?" Mallorie told him. "I can't do anything now, so just wait there until his cousin arrives."

"Sure, like I've got a choice by now." Naruto chuckled to brighten the mood up. "Do my greetings to Liz if you see her."

"You do it yourself, you got her number!" Mallorie stated with a laugh. "Come back to Bohan, idiota, she'll be happy to see you come again."

"I will, once everything's fixed. See you tomorrow, Mall."

"Good night."

Both hung up at the same time, leaving Naruto by himself as he then stared at the empty docking area where he saw some other people seen waiting for the ship. Seeing that these weren't dockworkers with safety clothing, they were easily set apart.

One thing the blonde did notice, was a group of Chinese men that were also waiting, and it didn't take long to figure out who these men were:

They were Triads, of which faction? That was unknown to him, as there were several that Naruto knew of were operating across the city, some of those factions having an arm-length relationship with each other. They kept to themselves as they all were seen talking to each other or exchanging smokes, with the latter being the most common interaction.

But what caught Naruto's attention was one member of them was a woman, who was wearing a traditional Chinese blue-lined and black clothing, being the sole female around the group of Triads, she seem to order them to not look suspicious, with them doing so what they were told.

Then, out of nowhere, a dark-purpled with black-out windows Cognoscenti was seen driving up to the Triads, and stopping right among them, with the woman seen walking up to the window and lowering down.

Pulling up a cigarette, Naruto then light it up as he watched on, not caring if he was spotted, as he already got the feeling he was being stared at. One of the Triads was gesturing the others at Naruto, and it looked like they were going to do something-

But they std down, perhaps an order given by the man inside the car, who had given them further instructions, to which the female Triad nodded, afterwards the Cognoscenti was seen driving off, causing the Triads to then turn away towards themselves.

By this, Naruto then turned back to himself and leaned against the car as he waited for the ship. To pick up his boss' cousin.

To await for another fellow immigrant to start his life, in America.

SURNAME: Uzumaki

FIRST NAME: Naruto

AGE- 21

PLACE OF BIRTH: Osaka, Japan

AFFILIATIONS: Linked to Russian & West Indian Criminals in Broker, & Chinese Criminals in Algonquin. Known Associate of "Gay" Tony Prince and Onoki "Fence Sitter" Gorbaty.

CRIMINAL RECORD: 2008 - Assault

NOTES:

-Recent Immigrant to Liberty City.

-Former contractor with Merryweather PMC.

-Late father was Head of the Lost OMG in Japan until assassination. Has not maintained links since late teens.

-Appears to be avoiding allegiance to one particular organisation, while also acting as a Middleman/Negotiator.

Peace!