HAUNTED

disclaimer: Naruto is the work Masashi Kishimoto, not me, and I make no profits from this fanfiction.

WARNINGS: shonen ai, yaoi, corniness, angst, possible spoilers, could be boring, first fanfiction, etc.

A/N: So this is my first fanfiction, I've been having so much fun reading them that I wanted to try writing one myself. This story is set 6 years after Sasuke leaves team 7. I know that Oro is supposed to use the soul transfer 3 years after Sasuke goes to him, however I wanted to set S and N's ages at around 19, so I deviated from the original story. Therefore, this story does not totally coincide with the manga, esp. with what starts happening around manga chap. 347 or so. Thanks and hope someone out there likes it!

CHAPTER ONE

Sasuke walked through the forest, calmly surveying his surroundings. The sun was rising in the sky, banishing the last echoes of night, and casting a steadily increasing glow throughout the woods. Birds were beginning to chirp and sing in the trees, welcoming the day, and Sasuke was grateful for the sound. It broke the silence that he had been traveling in all night, made him remember that he was not completely and utterly alone in the world.

Yesterday, he had finally left the lair of Orochimaru. Sasuke had taken Orochimaru's life a week ago when the snake Sannin attempted to transfer his soul into Sasuke's body. He would never forget the feeling that he had had at the moment the transfer was supposed to take place. He had known as soon as soon as the ritual began that it would be futile. He had felt his own strength as the creepy man had began to pour his soul into Sasuke's body, and knew that he would take Orochimaru's life. And he had. Afterwards, he calmly walked away and went to his room. Life had gone on as usual for a few days; after three years, Sasuke had began to feel at home in the dark rooms and long corridors of the stone fortress. He never knew what the subordinates did with the body, and he didn't care. For the most part, they left him alone, fearing he would take their lives as well. So the avenger lived in darkness and silence for six days, eating only enough to continue living, moving only enough to keep his muscles from atrophy . On the seventh day, he had been looking out the window when he had spotted a bright yellow bird flying through the sky. The sun had glinted off its feathers as it swooped and dived, and Sasuke felt something stirring in his chest as he watched. Like the pain of rewarming a frostbitten piece of flesh, Sasuke's heart began to ache as he watched the merry little yellow bird because it reminded him of Naruto. Then he had simply stood up and walked out of the place that he had inhabited for six years, taking nothing with him except the clothes on his back. He had walked for the remainder of the day and throughout the night at a steady pace with the memory of the cheery blond from Konoha in his mind.

Now, as dawn crept into the world, Sasuke felt life returning to his body and mind. He knew he was strong now. His defeat of Orochimaru had proved his power. He was finally ready to face his brother Itachi. Stepping over gnarled roots and plants wet with dew, his attention was drawn again to the birds overhead. The raven haired boy stopped for the first time in his journey, and gazed at the treetops as he contemplated his next move. Yes, he was now confident that he had the strength to attempt to fulfill his revenge. However, he had to acknowledge that there was still a good chance that he would die in the attempt to kill Itachi. Sasuke did not find the prospect of death unsettling; he had ceased to value his own life, and only lived for the chance to take his brother's. Yet, there was one person he longed to see before his time in this world ended. If he did die, he wanted Naruto to know that he had never forgotten him. He knew the blonde had cared for him in the past, even considered him his best friend. And to Sasuke, Naruto was much more then that; the blonde boy was like a ray of light in the avenger's lonely world, like a flame buried in a dark soul. Perhaps it was selfish but Sasuke wanted to see Naruto one last time before the end.

Sasuke still watched the birds in the trees as these thoughts raced through his mind. Despite all his longings, he was still undecided whether he should go to Naruto or not. He wanted to, but was it really fair after the way Sasuke had treated him, ridiculed him, and finally left him? Even though he had his reasons for this behavior, did he really even deserve to see his former teammate?

Then, a solitary yellow feather floated down from the treetops, catching the light as it made its way through the air to settle on the forest floor. Sasuke moved forward towards the small object, bending to pick it up. It was so soft. Sasuke imagined he was touching Naruto's hair as his fingers caressed the feather. This had to be a sign.

The Uchiha stood with a determined glint in his eyes. It was decided then. He'd go to him. Perhaps he'd only watch from afar to avoid hurting the blond again, but he would see him one last time. And maybe, if he succeeded in defeating his brother, he could return to Naruto again, but he wouldn't dwell on that thought for now. He'd see the person with whom he shared a bond that had never truly been broken, and then he'd continue to fulfill his destiny. Sasuke had realized in the years he had spent away from his birthplace that Naruto was also a part of his destiny; he had been destined from the beginning to know him, to be contradicted by him, and to love him. Therefore, it was only right that he bid him farewell, even if the blonde never knew it.

Sasuke's old smirk graced his lips for a moment. He'd be back in Konoha by nightfall.