A.N.: Everyone hates Mace now, heh; did anyone see that part in chapter ten coming? Any way, thanks for all the reviews people! I have blind determination to reach one hundred reviews, get this story on at least ten c2's, and get 25,000 hits to the story! My goal isn't far though!

I got the name Ligar from Zoids, an old show I used to watch when I was seven.

Oh and don't get mad on what happens in the first half of this chapter…it's all part of the plot.

Just to say, the voting poll is over now, and the winner for the ramen eating contest has been decided!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of its characters.

Cloud village

"How do you know about kyuubi!" asked Naruto.

"Don't be stupid. Spirits can identify chakra and yours was flooded with demon chakra."

"How am I supposed to beat you then!"

"By yourself."

Ligar got off of Naruto and said, "You have ten seconds to prepare yourself."

Naruto took a deep breath, stood up, and Ligar shouted, "Start!"

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" shouted Naruto summoning twenty clones to the field.

Starting with close range combat, the Naruto's clones attempted to land punches or kicks while trying to avoid Ligar's slashes and pouncing.

'Where could he be?' thought Ligar sniffing while dodging attacks, 'Found him.'

Ligar dodged the next attack and lunged to the right , swiping at Naruto's cheek.

"GAH!" Naruto clutched his cheek but was knocked away by Ligar who had head butted him in the stomach.

"How'd you know it was me?"

"My nose tracked you."

"I can't believe I won't be able to heal you!"

'It's alright, I'll do my best.'

Naruto leaped away from Ligar and started tossing shuriken at him.

"Pathetic, those don't work against me!"

Naruto watched in shock as Ligar breathed deeply in and then roared as loud as he could, sending shockwaves that served as a shield, which stopped the shuriken in mid flight.

Resorting to his kunai, Naruto this time had his plan thought out.

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" he shouted once more, bringing three more clones.

Each taking three kunai and wrapping an explosive tag around it, the clones surrounded Ligar, who at the time showed no fear, thus pissing off Naruto.

"Take this!" shouted all four Naruto's in unison.

The shuriken collided and exploded. When the dust cleared though, Ligar was nowhere to be found.

Naruto then heard, "Thunder tackle!"

Rising from under Naruto, Ligar shining like a bolt of electricity, hit Naruto's jaw much like Naruto did in his fight versus Neji in the chunin exams.

Flying into the air, Naruto regained balance and now that both he and Ligar were in mid-air, Naruto charged chakra in his palm.

Using the air walk technique, Naruto stuck in the air upside down and prepared to snipe Ligar.

Ligar was taken by surprised and Naruto shouted, "Vulcan Rasengan!"

Apparently, Naruto remembered his team up fight he had with Saira against the Raikage and how he used a special wind movement to fire debris like a cannon. But Naruto fired smaller versions of the rasengan rapidly as though his hand was a machine gun.

After some mini rasengans made contact with Ligar, Naruto barely had anymore chakra and decided to preserve it for later.

Ligar lay on the arena floor, and seemed to be knocked out by Naruto's attack.

"I may not know how to use this sword, but I can think of a way to use it!"

Pulling the sword from its shaft, Naruto was still standing upside down in midair. Then, pushing himself, and sticking Midnights Gale down, Naruto came falling like a sharp icicle.

Before he could stab Ligar's leg, which he intended to do, NOT kill him; Ligar dodged the attack and Naruto's sword got stuck in the ground.

Not paying attention to Ligar, and too busy trying to take out his sword, Naruto was slashed in the elbow.

Naruto was able to click the handles button and take half of the sword out of the ground.

"Kit! Let me heal you!"

'No kyuubi! I'll loose!'

Before Naruto could say anymore, Ligar pounced on him, put his face close to Narutos, and roared loudly.

Naruto was now deaf and couldn't hear what was going on and the only one he could talk to was kyuubi.

"Watch out!"

Naruto was picked up by the shirt with Ligars teeth, and was thrown into the air.

Ligar jumped up after Naruto with his mouth wide open to bite.

'Here we go!'

As Ligar was about to bite him, Naruto was able to get better grip of his sword, and thrust it so that way Ligar clenched on to the sword.

In midair, unable to pull Midnights Gale out of Ligars mouth, Naruto still couldn't hear and also was kicked into the ground by the psychopath tiger; who fell on his feet safely.

Naruto used the half of Midnights Gale still stuck in the ground to lift himself up.

Ligar raced up to him with the other half of the sword in his mouth.

Naruto picked up his half and then the two collided. If Naruto could hear, there would have been a loud, "Clang!" heard.

Then at that instant, Ligar disappeared.

Still deaf from Ligar's roar, Naruto couldn't hear where the tiger was coming from and then…

"Got you." murmured Ligar who had his teeth sunk into Naruto's right shoulder.

"Gah!" Shouted Naruto spilling some blood.

Ligar let go his grip and then tackled Naruto once more.

Now on the floor, Naruto sat up on his knees, trying to get some breath.

Ligar kept knocking Naruto down with his paw and head saying, "Get up!"

"I quit…" said Naruto slamming his palm into the ground, dismissing Ligar.

Before the tiger left in a puff of smoke, he said, "Quitters always loose!"

Naruto collapsed on the floor and Saira rushed to his side.

"Naruto-kun!"

"I-it's alright…just get me a medical nin…"

Naruto then faded into his mind.

"Kit! I'm gonna start healin' you!"

'No, that'll blow my cover…'

"You must have balls to refuse this! You might die!"

'I'm gonna ignore you.'

Naruto could hear kyuubi babbling idiotic things like, "You could have my REAL treatment right now! Don't come to me when you wake up in a hospital half dead again! Listen to me!"

With that, Naruto passed out.

In the Wave village, two days later

Sasuke and Tenten arrived at the new bridge to the Wave village.

On their way, Sasuke noticed that the bridge was painted orange, and a small stone with writing on it was in the center of the bridge entrance.

"What's it say?" asked Tenten.

"It says, 'This bridge not only built a path to the future of the village, but also a path between the villagers to bond. We name this bridge after Uzumaki Naruto. He shown us there are still heroes in the world.' Naruto!"

Sasuke and Tenten looked in awe as they saw the name of the bridge above:

"The Great Naruto Bridge"

"Hm…that's a great name…" said Sasuke smiling softly.

"Would you have ever said that three years ago?" asked Tenten.

"No…but now I would."

"I never really knew him…"

"Uchiha Sasuke! Is that you!" shouted a man walking up to them.

"Who are you?"

"It's me! Tazuna! Where're are the others?"

"Sorry old man…it's just us."

"Oh…ok. Who's this pretty woman?" asked Tazuna smirking.

Sasuke smiled nervously, "She's coming along. We had to have a two person system."

"Right… Let me take you to my home. You're probably looking for a place to stay the night!"

Nodding, the two followed Tazuna across the bridge and into the village.

Sasuke's jaw dropped to the floor when he saw the site.

There were stores filled with customers all over the corners, the streets were clean and filled with people; and some roads were made of bricks.

Tentens eyes went wide and she said, "Shopping might actually be fun here!"

"All this in three years!" asked Sasuke still observing the area.

"Yep! The village is thinking of building a park."

"How's your family?"

"Let me show you! We own a restaurant down the corner!"

Entering the restaurant, Sasuke could see that it was the size of a regular house.

"Hey grandpa!" shouted a boy from the counter.

"Inari! We have visitors!"

"Huh…who-SASUKE!" shouted Inari running up to Sasuke and hugging him.

"I'm your age the day you first came here!" said Inari grinning.

"Yeah, that's nice. We'll be here only for today, we got work to do."

"Ok but…is Naruto here!"

"..."

"Inari, Naruto couldn't come this time."

"Aw man! Well then tell him I said hello when you get back to your village. Ok?"

Sasuke bit his lip for a moment and faked a smile, "Sure…I'll tell him."

"Who's that? Your girlfriend!" asked Inari with a smug face.

"What do you know Inari?"

"Ok you two, cut it. Let me show you where Tsunami is."

"Well look who's here!" shouted Tsunami. (Inari's mom)

"Glad you're here. As it turns out, Sasuke and this lady here want to see the council of this village!"

"Oh alright! We'll take them there later today…but first, have any of you two had lunch yet?"

The two shook their heads.

"Ok then, lunch's on the house!"

Cloud village

Naruto felt his consciousness returning and was currently in Kyuubi's cage.

"Welcome back sleeping ugly."

'Good to see you too fox."

"Anyway…like I said before you went out, you'll wake up in a hospital."

'Damn.'

"What 'cha expect? You been unconscious for quite a while."

"Nani! How long have I been out!"

"Um…I'd say three days."

"NANI!"

Naruto suddenly sprung up and found himself lying on a bed…a white bed."

"Yep…I'm in a hospital."

Naruto looked to his left and saw Saira sleeping on a couch.

"Geez. How long has she been here?" asked Naruto to himself.

"She comes here every afternoon. During the first day you were out, she spent the night here." Said the Raikage just entering the room.

"Woah. That sounds kind of creepy. Like she was stalking me or something."

"I wouldn't say that." Said the Raikage smiling.

Suddenly Saira woke up and shouted, "Naruto-kun! You're awake!"

Saira starting looking at Naruto as though checking for injuries and said, "You look fine now! Glad you're back!"

"Thanks…"

"We thought you were going to stay unconscious for two more days! You healed fast!"

'Kyuubi. Did you do anything?' asked Naruto in his head.

"I healed you while everyone was asleep…hehe."

'Just making sure…'

"Naruto! In four days the contest is up! Do you want to eat come eat ramen with me one more time before then?"

"Sorry Saira. I can't today."

"Alright…" said Saira sadly.

"You took quite a beating there." Said the Raikage.

"Yeah. I had to quit."

"Hm…well if that's what you wanted. Anyway, tomorrow we start training again."

"Oh ok. I might have to find a new summoning."

"Yeah, maybe. Well I'll see you tomorrow at the regular place." Said the Raikage leaving the door.

"Yeah…I'll see you too Naruto." Said Saira walking out the door disappointed.

After leaving the hospital, Naruto went to the training grounds to sit back and think.

'Kyuubi, I'm coming in.'

Entering the cage of his mind, Naruto was immediately hit across his head by kyuubi's tail.

'Ouch! What was that for!'

"For one thing, your being an ass."

"What do you mean!"

"This is the…ten…fourteenth time you turn down Saira!"

"What do you care!"

"Baka! Look at what's happened to you!"

'There's nothing wrong with me!'

"You're dumber than you used to be!"

'I just got here and you already got an issue with me!'

"Tell me kit. What do you think of quitting earlier this week? What made you do that?"

'There was no way I could win. I tried.'

"Did you hear what you just said?"

'Yeah. What of it?'

"Baka! Look how you've changed! What has happened to you!"

'For one thing I'm stronger. Also I'm wiser than I ever was!'

"Yeah right!"

'What do you know about me!'

"Listen dumb ass! I've been with you all your life! I know everything that goes on in your head!"

'Answer me! How have I changed!'

"When you were still in Konoha you never gave up! Sure you were a pain to put up with but at least you weren't a stiff like Sasuke was!"

'What?'

"I know this is crazy coming from me but…kit…ever since you left Konoha, you've been acting differently. I rarely see any more of your old self."

'Yeah but-'

"Let me finish. This is the first time I've EVER seen you give up! The old Naruto never would do that and would fight till he can't feel anything! What about your ninja way!"

'I never go back on my word! That's the ninja way!'

'I never said anything in a while kyuubi.'

"Oh really baka? You said you'd do your best to pass the test!"

'…'

"You quitted! Broke your ninja way!"

'But why did you mention earlier Saira?'

"When we came here, you said you wouldn't make the mistake of making bonds!"

'And that's good!'

"No it isn't! Naruto, there was nothing wrong with your bonds! What was wrong, were Sakura and Sasuke! You would do anything for them but neither of them bothered to return their feelings! Sasuke was power mad and that bitch was too caught up with Sasuke and never took the time to notice you!"

'What does that have to do with anything!"

"What I'm trying to say is that you never made a mistake, but you're making one now!"

'What mistake?'

"The one Sakura and Sasuke made!"

'…'

"Lets say…Saira was you in Konoha, and you are Sakura and Sasuke from Konoha a long time ago. You're Saira's special person who she's trying to get attention of! And you're pushing her away! Be nicer to her. Don't let her end up like you. Put the damn past behind you and-"

'It's alright kyuubi…you said enough.'

"What!"

'Thank you…'

Kyuubi's jaw dropped.

Naruto exited his minds confinement and headed through a street in town, it was getting dark.

"Hey…kit…mind telling me where we're going?"

'The Raikage once told me where Saira is.'

"Why are we going there?"

'You said it yourself! I'm putting the past behind me. I'm going to ask Saira out for tomorrow night.'

"Finally."

'And tomorrow…I'm going to keep my word. Tomorrow…we're re-taking the test.'

"Damn straight we will!"

After another minute of searching, Naruto reached Saira's apartment and knocked on the door.

"Hello Saira? Are you there?"

Opening the door, Saira appeared with casual clothes and seemed tiered.

"Hey sorry I-"

"Oh Naruto!" said Saira rubbing her eyes and brushing dust of her shirt, trying to make herself look more presentable.

"Saira…I'm sorry I couldn't go out to eat ramen with you tonight because I…had stuff to do but…maybe tomorrow we could eat-as friends!" added Naruto quickly.

Saira's eyes widened and sparkled. , "Sure… Naruto-kun!"

"Thanks then…see you tomorrow."

"See you…" said Saira trying to control her happiness in her.

When Naruto left and Saira entered her room, she shouted, "YEAH!"

On the way back to his apartment, Naruto was smiling.

"Nice work kit! You made her happy."

'She is pretty…'

"Damn right."

I know people might be disappointed for Naruto quitting and loosing but hey, it's going to get better in the next chapter.

Alright everyone! The voting poll is over and the winner for the ramen contest is decided!

Well how was that? I hope this chapter was good. There will be a one-year time skip after either the next two, or three chapters. If anyone finds something out of place in this chapter, it's probably because I updated this chapter close to midnight. Thanks for reading!

P.S.: This story has achived 100 reviews! Thanks to all reviewers and voters! More on next chapter soon to come!