This is NOT a chapter of Uzumaki Rising.

You can consider this an extended omake, or a what-if scenario. This chapter also contains spoilers for a certain quest in Ragnarok Online.

So without further ado, read on.

Uzumaki Rising

Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Unexpected

Omake Chapter: "Clan Uzumaki"

So there I was, seeing the gates of the Village Hidden in the Leaves (oh how I missed you so!) as our team took a triumphant trek back from our Akatsuki hunt.

Everyone else looked kind of put out at Tenten rubbing her cheek against my old Cyclone though, and she already started to mimic my sense of fashion before this mission came to be.

Last night, though, I took the time to bring out my old forehead protector and reminisce. Come to think of it, sitting there, looking out at the night sky, forehead protector in hand, pining for home... it kind of cut an image that you wouldn't recognize as me if you'd known me from before I got sidetracked to Rune-Midgard.

It cut an image, all right. Those fangirls of yours didn't stop swooning at you. Who was that one you helped out, the one where your intervention got you on the right track to get back here?

...Elly?

Screw you, demon fox.

Apt words.

DO NOT REMIND ME.

I rub my head in exasperation as I remember the misadventures I got into on the way to my return here. In hindsight, it may have been one of the most humiliating things to happen to me, but it did melt the ice between me and the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox further after we helped clear the Dragon Zombie from Payon Cave.

My right hand carefully inches towards my holster, readying to withdraw a pistol in a moment's notice. Left's in my pocket, enchanted zenny coins at the ready should I need to. Shotgun's loaded. Gatling's revving up.

But what I need to do is talk this guy down.

"Look, Kiehl, you're a pretty swell guy," I begin. "Based on what I've heard, and what I've seen on the way here - sorry if I left a mess, guy's gotta defend himself - you've done a lot of good for the world. Why destroy it?"

"You heard my father's story. No matter how much good we do, our past is drenched in bloodshed and murder."

"That can't be completely true," I reply, my right hand finally finding a grip on my Wasteland's Outlaw. "None of us know for certain. I know I do my best to help this world in what little way I can... past or not."

"Still," Kiehl answered, "it is not that I choose to, it is that I must. The core of my circuits are indelibly linked to Allysia's ring. If you want it, you must pry it from my cold, dead, hands."

Automatons with bladed hands sprang from the shadows, and I flashed into motion, my blue eyes burning purple fire as I let loose with the first volley, knocking five of them down in the first two seconds.

Oh crap. He's powering up.

I backpedal from Kiehl as a monstrous form grows from within him, and the other mercenaries I partied with take this as their cue to attack.

Pandemonium erupts as I take hold of the second of my matching set of revolvers, point it at Kiehl's chest, and fire off bursts of sustained fire at him.

He's not stopping.

The mercenaries have been injured, but are still holding fast, and I feel myself being energized as the High Priest gives me the standard package of buffs...

The Sniper in our group fires off arrows with implacable speed, her pet falcon soaring to the fight in tandem with her shooting. The rather arrogant Champion in our troupe has given Kiehl a full-powered Guillotine Fist to the face...

...Assassins jump from their spots, weapons glowing with deadly poison as they slash at the enemy.

Looks like all time for talk is gone.

I reveal the Butcher and relay my order.

Our knights and alchemists come in, spears flying and potions exploding as I rev up the Butcher's motor, the enchanted zenny coins vanishing as the spell finishes.

Showtime.

"Naruto, what's wrong?" Tenten asked me.

Crap, I was zoning out.

"With the look on your face, you'd gotten lucky back there, didn't you?" she asked with a teasing smile on her face.

"Wasn't that good," I reply, trying to keep a poker face on and failing as my mind switches back to that morning I wake up in the Kiel Hyre Academy's apartments, in Ellysia's room, turning around to see the girl who asked from my help sleeping beside me with the most angelic smile on her face... and then I hear the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox chuckling.

Did you just do what I think you did?

"Nah," I answer, my face feeling a sudden warmth as I try to move faster.

So, after debriefing with Iruka-sensei and some Ichiraku's, I was about to head home and call it a day when a quartet of ANBU appeared in front of me.

"Specialist Uzumaki, the Hokage requires your presence."

I shrug and follow them to the Tower.

There, in her office, I find the Hokage leafing through some documents.

"Good afternoon, Hokage-sama," I say respectfully, pulling down the black hat.

"Good afternoon, Naruto. Sit down."

So I did.

"First of all, congratulations on a job well done. This will go into your mission log as an A-rank seek-and-destroy mission."

"It is my pleasure, Hokage-sama," I answer, smiling.

"Unfortunately, people have been coming to me with reports of several people loitering around your apartment building. I've sent some ANBU to investigate, but they only found a few civilians. And then this arrives in the mail." she said, before beginning to read a document aloud.

"The following is a declaration made by the retainer of the Uzumaki Clan. On behalf of its sole member and clan leader Uzumaki Naruto, we, the retainers and staff working for the clan will offer our services to the Village Hidden in the Leaves for the purpose of purchasing enough land for a clan compound."

"Clan compound?" I ask. Plus, who'd think this one out? Is this some sort of prank?

"This clan compound will be the cornerstone of the livelihood of the Uzumaki Clan and its retainers in Konoha, and the value of the land and its properties will be paid in gold, precious stones, rare metals, weapons, armor, and educating both civilian and ninja alike in our way of life."

"The value of our total contribution to this village may be infinite, but we humbly ask for enough space for us to be able to embrace the totality of our potential in contributing to the greatness of this village."

"I hope that we of Clan Uzumaki can come to this understanding.

Sincerely yours, Seyren Windsor - Head Retainer of Clan Uzumaki

Witnesses:
Howard Alt-Eisen, Eremes Guile, Cecil Damon, Margaretha Sorin, Kathryne Keyron, Egnigem Cenia, Erendee Ebecee, Laurel Weinder, Kavach Icarus, Wickebein Tres, and Armaia Dinze

My jaw hits the floor. Those guys FOLLOWED ME BACK HERE?

a/n: Told you it was crack-y.