Chapter IV: Genjutsu

Amazing Man was reading a book when he heard a knock on the door. When he opened the door he saw a delivery man in a blue uniform. "Package for Will Everett?"

"Yes, that's me."

He handed him a clipboard, "If you could just sign here."

"Sure."

The delivery man's smile quickly curled up unnaturally as he reached into a box, "Thanks... Amazing Man."

Amazing Man raised a brow, "What did you call"- he was cut off when the delivery man pulled a gun on him and shot him right in the head.

Although one look at Amazing Man's brass skin revealed that he failed. "Huh? I thought you could only turn into something you've touched..... ah." Joker noticed the doorknob that he grabbed.

Amazing Man grabbed him by his collar. "Who are you? Who sent you?!"

Joker held the gun up to his head. "Oh, I'm not going to make it that easy." And he blew his brains out.

Joker broke out of the trance of the body he was controlling, "Damn it! I should've just grabbed one of their minds instead of resorting to a nobody off the street," he sat down and looked up at the ceiling and he grumbled, "But I want them to see it coming.

Harly said, "Yeah. But ya can't have everythin'. It's like the old saying goes, sometimes you just have to be content with bein' able to control the brains of your enemies."

"But it's not as much fun if they don't..."

"Don't what?"

He smiled at her, "Of course!"

She held up a hand, "Is this a revelation you're keeping to yourself or...?"

"I know what's missing."

"What are you lookin' at me like that for?"

He guided her out to a two sided staircase. Her eyes were wide and her posture was tight. "Uh... Watcha doin' Mistah J?"

He had a huge smile on his face, "I'm finessing, Harley. I'm finding that sweet spot of control and awareness. It will be far funnier if these heros know what they're doing while I make them do it." He grabbed her, "I appreciate the help, doll."

Her voice shook, "Puddin'? You really don't have to"-"Jump."

The mind control forced her to jump right off the balcony.

Later Joker was alone in his room. "Be quiet. No, that's not going to happen. Because I don't want to." He held up the amulet to his face and pointed at it. "Shut up! You're an inanimate object, stop telling me what to do!"

Gary the Assassin walked in, "Uh... who are you talking to, boss?"

"Harley."

"I don't think she's here."

Joker held up a Harley uniform. "Wear this."

He leaned back slightly, "I'm not sure I can pull that outfit off, boss."

He glared at him. "Wear. This."

The next day Jay Garrick, the older Flash, rushed into a burning building and rushed everyone out of the building, but there was one more person. "Help! Somebody! Please!"

He opened the door it came from, "Hello? Is anyone here?!"

He saw the silhouette of a person, "It burns! Oh God! Help meee!"

He started running, "I'm coming." But he stopped when he saw Gary in a Harley outfit that didn't fit. "What's... going on?"

Joker cracked open the door and his eyes were red. "You came! Thank you... you're my hero." Flash tensed up and he became bug eyed. "Can you hear me? Do you still know what you're doing?"

"Ye..es."

"Perfect!"

"Hel"- Joker put a finger on his lips, "Uh uh, shhh."

"Uh, boss?"

"I'm in the middle of something here, Gary!"

Gary pointed at Flash's foot. "Yeah, but he's on fire a bit, boss."

Joker put a hand on his lips. "Whoops! That's awkward. This fire wasn't supposed to get quite so out of hand, but Gary here shot our Arsonist. I'm in your head. I could make you stand here and burn. Watch you, helpless, feeling your skin melt. But I have something even more fun planned."

Later in Gotham Superman, Itachi, and Batman were in the Manor around a table. Superman looked down at the table and one of his legs was hopping. He stated, "First Sandman along with Green Lantern, and now Amazing Man. At least Amazing Man is ok."

Batman put his hands together. "I've almost connected the dots. First Andre was broken out of prison 3 days ago because he promised Joker power. Whatever that power was, Joker definitely has it now."

"I went to the bottom of the sea where Black Manta said it came from and there was just a small crater there."

"Correct, but none of us hid anything there."

Itachi cut in, "Maybe the Justice Society knows what was down there. You mentioned that they knew Andre back in world war two."

Batman nodded, "I agree. We should organize an emergency meeting with them today, we need to know just what this power can do."

"I think I already know what the power can do. Back home we called what Joker is doing Genjutsu, and it was fairly common. So far he most likely controlled Green Lantern to kill Sandman then fell himself. Although if he wanted to kill him he would have..." Itachi had a hand on his chin and Batman followed up, "The Green Lanterns have rules. Killing is one of the rules they cannot break, if they break this rule then someone or something will come to take away their ring, maybe something along those lines could have happened."

"Maybe. Then the next day he failed to kill Amazing Man. For some reason he hasn't tried to kill anyone else since then."

"Knowing the Joker he won't go after him again right away. That leaves Flash, Wild Cat, Dr Mid-Nite, Liberty Belle, Hourman, Starman, and Mr. Terrific."

Superman lifted a hand, "What about Doctor Fate, Wonder Woman, Hawgirl, and Hawkman?"

"Judging off the pattern so far it seems like he's only going for the members that are retiring soon. And even though that includes Doctor Fate he probably figures she's too much trouble to go after."

Itachi leaned in, "That leaves Wildcat, Flash, Liberty Belle, Hourman, Starman, and Mr Terrific. He'll more than likely target one of them very soon. We should guard each of them before he can kill another."

"Batman stood up, "I'm going to arrange a meeting with some of the Justice Society members."

Itachi looked at Superman, "Can you fly me near where Wildcat is?"

"Of course." Superman picked him up and they started flying in that direction. "May I ask why you want to go to Wildcat specifically?" 

"Wildcat is Batman's Idol, since the Joker is Batman's main nemesis he's probably going to want to kill Wildcat the most."

"That's true. Hey you might take Batman's world's greatest Detective label soon. And your English is perfect now Itachi, I'm impressed." 

"Thank you."

While they flew there, Flash under the control of Joker already arrived at Wildcats gym where he was training a young boy. He told the kid, "This isn't supposed to be fun. Stop holding back." The kids' punches still had little intensity. "Come on. You've got more in you, Nick. Show it!" 

He finally delivered a good blow. "There it is." Flash leaned in at the side of the ring. "Mind if I cut in?" 

Jay's brows raised, "Flash? Can I help you?"

Flash went through the ropes of the ring. "What's so special about you, old man?" 

"Huh?"

Flash suddenly dashed forward and pushed Wildcat into the ropes by his neck. "What does he see in you, Wildcat? What are you to Batman?"

The boy reached into his bag. "Hey, man. Let him go." He pointed a gun at Flash.

Flash laughed and Wildcat told the boy, "Nick. Put it down. Walk out of here. That goes for everyone else. Out. Flash and I need to have a private chat."

The boy resolved himself and glared at Flash. "Nah. We're not leaving you, Ted."

"Stupid child. I'm the Flash..." the boy started pulling the trigger. "I'm faster than a speeding bullet." 

Flash started running at the boy and the gun went off. "Oh, whoops."

In the van Gary asked Joker, "What? Did the old Flash die?" 

"Nom.. I just... I really should have practiced a little," Flash was covered in blood and looked down at the skeleton that used to be Nick.

Superman was flying over a city and he put two fingers to his ear, "Where am I needed, Flash?"

The Justice League Flash answered, "I'm not sure yet. All I've gleaned is that it's a metahuman. And someone has died."

The radio went off. POSSIBLE ADDRESS FOR CODE 616. REPORTS OF METAHUMAN VIOLENCE AT 600 COMMONPAW.

Flash raised a brow, "600 Commonpaw?" UNCONFIRMED REPORTS THE FLASH JUST MURDERED SOMEONE. "What?" NO. NOT THE JUSTICE LEAGUE GUY. THE ONE IN THE HAT.

Superman changed his comms channel, "Itachi!"-"I heard everything Superman. I'm already on it. I'm at Fifth and Beredo."

Inside the gym Wildcat stood in shock looking at Flash who was picking at his teeth. "Oh man, I have bits of this kid in my teeth. Ha!"

Wildcat waved a hand, "All of you. Get out of here. Now."

"Yes. Listen to Wildcat. Run. It will be fun to chase you."

Wildcat glared, "You won't be chasing them."

"Oh right, you're a boxer." Flash mocked him and put up his hands, "Let's box. Go on. Put up your dukes"- He was cut off by a sharp straight right to the dome that knocked him flat on his back. "AH HA HA! Nice one. I can't feel it, but I think you just broke this face, Teddy. Way to permanently damage your friend."

Wildcat walked forward steadily with his guard up, "Jay, whatever has gotten into you, I'm gonna get it out."

Flash grabbed his jaw and put it back in place. "Nah, you're not. See, I wanted you to have that one."

Wildcat started throwing punches. "Jay, if you can hear me, fight this! I know you can."

Jay started talking in his normal voice, "I... Ted. You have to... HNNNGG.... get away."

Joker pursed his lips, "Ugh! That's enough self awareness. Give 'em an inch of free will and they take a mile, am I right, Gary? Time to take complete control of this puppet." Flash delivered a strong uppercut. "Whatever it is Batsy sees in you," He started hitting him with dozens of fast punches to his body, "He's not going to be able to look at you after this. Can't look at someone with respect if they don't have a face. See ya, Wildcat."

But before he could deliver the final blow, Barry caught his arm. He glared at the younger Flash. " Huh? Where did you come from?"

"Jay, what are you doing?" 

Jay slapped his hand away, "So familiar, Flash. Ah, I'm your hero, aren't I? That's sweet."

Barry pointed at him, "Who are you? What are you?"

Jay put a hand behind his back, "Nope, not gonna be that easy," he pulled out a knife and stabbed it into Flash's leg, "Tag! You're it!"

Jay ran out of the gym and started running to try and find as many people to kill as possible. The first person he saw on the road was a young man with Black hair and a black cloak with red clouds. His eyes were also glowing red in a pinwheel pattern. 

'I don't know how strong his mind control his, so the safest option is to go all out right away. Tsukiyomi!'

The Joker's perception changed from a normal city street to a black flat terrain and a red sky. He started looking around, "Where am I?" He looked at his arm and realized he wasn't in Jay's body anymore. He also noticed Itachi. "Just who the hell are you?"

Itachi remained silent and Joker was strapped to a surgery table. "Alright, not much of a talker are you?"

Itachi materialized a sword and stabbed it straight through Joker's stomach. The surprising pain made him gasp and cough up blood. "What the hell is wrong with you?! You can't kill me!"

"This is all in your head, so you won't die, you'll just wish you were. Release control of Jay Garrick's body and I'll let you escape this."

"Do you think I'm new to this kid? I"-"I don't care what you are." He stabs him again. Joker chuckled a little, "Is stabbing me with some swords all you can do?"

Itachi sighed and his expression remained blank, "I'll put this into perspective for you. Only one minute has passed. I could stick you in here for one hundred years if I wanted to, and only a picosecond would pass by in real life," Itachi leaned in, "I'll stay here as long as it takes."

Joker stayed silent and frowned. He glared at him coldly. He stated, "Whoever you are, I'll make sure you die slowly," before fading away. 

Itachi sighed again, 'I could tell just by looking at his eyes that torture wouldn't have made him give away his location, even if he did he'd just go somewhere else before anyone else could get there. I was right to guess that he would be too impatient to wait years in a genjutsu to get one kill though.'

The environment changed from a black ground and red sky to a city street. Jay Garrick's body dropped right on the ground and the momentum caused him to fly into Itachi's arms.

Flash ran outside and Superman flew down. Superman had scrunched eyebrows, "Uh, what just happened?" 

"I put Joker under a Genjutsu that forced him out of his body." 

Jay mumbled to himself in a low tone, "He made me kill that young boy..."

Barry got on his knees and put a hand on Jay's shoulder. "That wasn't you, that was the Joker," Flash looked up at Itachi, "Your name is Itachi right Thank? Thank you for saving Jay," He said with a genuine smile.

"Of course it's my job as a hero, we should get Jay and Teddy proper care though, then we have a meeting." 'So far I'm in the good graces of Flash, Superman, Nightwing, and mostly Batman. If I continue like this I'll eventually be able to make it into the league,' something Batman said earlier popped into Itachi's mind, 'I'm still going to have to tell them about my past though, that'll be the determining factor.