Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - The Introduction

In 1992, CJ Johnson returns to Los Santos after five years in Liberty City following his mother's drive-by death. He is intercepted by corrupt C.R.A.S.H. officers led by Frank Tenpenny, who threaten to implicate him in the killing of a fellow officer unless he cooperates. CJ faces a choice between bowing to corruption or resisting and risking deadly consequences.

CJ returns to Grove Street and reconnects with his brother Sweet, sister Kendl, and fellow gang members Big Smoke and Ryder. He discovers the Grove Street Families have lost much of their territory and must rebuild their influence. The reunion rekindles the gang's resolve to reclaim their turf.

CJ and Cesar witness Smoke and Ryder meeting with Tenpenny and the Ballas, revealing their betrayal of the GSF and the killing of CJ's mother. Shocked, CJ suspects a setup and rushes to Sweet's aid to confront the rival gang in a decisive showdown. The betrayal marks a turning point that forces CJ to confront both enemies and friends.

After an ambush leaves Sweet wounded and imprisoned, Tenpenny exiles CJ to the countryside. He is forced to eliminate witnesses to C.R.A.S.H.'s corruption in exchange for Sweet's safety in prison. The exile redirects CJ onto a path far from Los Santos and the GSF.

CJ befriends The Truth and Wu Zi Mu, expanding his network beyond his old neighborhood. He participates in a street race and wins a garage in San Fierro, which he uses to build a money-making operation. This move also brings him into contact with the Loco Syndicate.

With Cesar and the Triad, CJ infiltrates the Loco Syndicate and identifies its leader, the affable yet enigmatic Mike Toreno. They destroy the drug factory and kill Ryder and the other leaders, while Toreno reveals himself as an undercover agent. Toreno then recruits CJ for covert operations in exchange for Sweet's release.

Toreno's shadowy deals pull CJ into a series of missions across the region, with Sweet's release hanging in the balance. CJ accepts the risks, strengthening his resolve to oppose both rivals and corrupt officials. The arrangement expands CJ's operations beyond Los Santos.

In Las Venturas, CJ and Wu Zi Mu establish a casino and clash with the Mafia, expanding their influence and wealth. The casino arc brings new dangers and alliances as CJ diversifies his criminal empire. This chapter adds a different city and a higher-stakes game to his roadmap.

After his release, Sweet and CJ revive the Grove Street Families, driving rival gangs from their territory and rebuilding across Los Santos. They consolidate control over more neighborhoods and restore the GSF's strength. The city begins to feel safer as the gang's influence returns.

Tenpenny is arrested and tried for felonies, but the charges are dropped due to a lack of witnesses, triggering a city-wide riot. CJ locates Big Smoke's hideout and prepares for the inevitable confrontation. The tension between corrupt authority and street power reaches a boiling point.

CJ and Smoke engage in a gunfight; Smoke confesses that money and power corrupted him, and he dies. Tenpenny arrives, holds CJ at gunpoint, steals Smoke's drug money, and escapes in a fire truck. CJ and Sweet pursue, setting up the dramatic chase that closes the arc.

Tenpenny crashes off a bridge while pursued by CJ and Sweet and dies from his injuries, ending the riot. In the aftermath, CJ's family and friends celebrate at the Johnson house as the neighborhood begins to recover. The victory feels fragile, but it marks a turning point for Grove Street.

CJ leaves the Johnson house to check on the neighborhood, a quiet reminder that his vigilance over Los Santos is ongoing. The closing moments hint at ongoing threats and the need for unity in Grove Street. The community's resilience becomes the lasting legacy of his leadership.