Chapter XXIX: The Perfect Bait

"Wondergirl, Starfire, Superboy. There's something I want to teach you." They all started listening intently. "Don't take any offense to this, but while you three all team up to fight someone, you don't actually fight them as a team."

Some of them were taken aback at the statement and Starfire raised a brow, "We've been fighting together for years, I think that we fight together well as a team."

Itachi shook his head, "No. While you are fighting three on one, you all wait to attack one by one. So instead of fighting the combined power of you three, they're fighting you individually. Your minds should be in sync and you should be able to land simultaneous attacks when fighting. I'll demonstrate. Any volunteers?"

Superboy raised a hand and stepped forward. Itachi made three shadow clones. "So how is this going to work?"

"The three of us are going to put you down on the ground three times in less than half a minute. Just try to stay on your feet."

Superboy got into a fighting stance and the three of them charged at him at the same time. Two ran at him head on while the third circled around him. The two in front of him threw their fist at the same time and he used both hands to block. One of them followed up with a wheel kick which Superboy blocked with his own leg. While on one leg the clone behind him swept his leg from under him and he fell.

Superboy was caught off guard but quickly stood up. The three of them threw a fist at his face at the same time and he could block two, but not the third one. One clone started punching him head on which made Superboy focus on blocking it, which allowed another clone to kick him behind his knees which made him start to fall. Itachi kicked him in the back from behind to make sure he fell.

Superboy gritted his teeth and got back up, "I'm not falling this time!" Itachi dashed at him and went low for an uppercut which Superboy blocked. But while he was looking lower and his guard was down a clone jumped over Itachi and side kicked him in the face. And at the same time his legs got swept from under him again.

Itachi dispelled the clones and reached out a hand to Superboy. He accepted it and stood back up. "As a shinobi I used to fight people that wanted to kill me all the time like the villains you fight now. Don't waste too much time with words unless it's a distraction, and use any underhanded tactic you can to win. That's what I learned as a Shinobi. If you have the advantage in numbers then take full advantage of it. Sync your minds, get out of their line of sight, strike at the same time. Do you three understand what I mean now?" They all nodded, "Good, well you should just work on that today. I'll be back."

He left the room and saw Manhunter at the door with his arms crossed and a grim expression. "Itachi. There's been an incident."

"What happened?"

"Batwoman has gone missing. More than likely killed."

Itachi's eyes narrowed, "How do you know this?"

"Oracle lended us the video of the last thing her visor picked up. Maybe you should listen to it yourself," Manhunter handed him a phone and Itachi played it.

After he finished watching it he handed it back to Manhunter slowly, 'It's exactly what i saw in my dream that day.' "Does anyone else know about this?"

"Tim and Zatanna know about it already."

Itachi put a hand on his chin, "It's getting worse out there.... I didn't expect him to go so far as to kill a whole crowd of people, although the idea of people praising the Joker is probably one of the only things that could make him do that."

Manhunter glanced at the clock on a wall that was connected to Earth. "Itachi, it's been about twelve hours, before they come to the conclusion that two more members have been captured. We should take advantage of this."

Itachi nodded, "You're right, can you get Superboy and Wondergirl to go find the gray Superman?"

"Of course, but what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to find Zatanna and Tim."

The first person he found was Tim who was currently filling up his utility belt. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine for the most part.... but Batwoman was part of our family."

"I understand. Although we're going to need back up for this capture mission to be a certain victory."

Tim faced him, "I'll go.... although after that, I want to go see Batman."

"I've noticed that you've looked troubled these past few days. Do you think that Batman might look at you badly now?"

He shook his head, "No, after last night I'm sure that that isn't the case. But after everything that's been happening, I just think that I should....."

Itachi put up a hand, "It's alright. You don't have to explain it to me. You can do what you have to."

Tim smiled, "Thanks. Now let's get to work."

Next Itachi went to Zatanna's room just as she teleported in it, "Zatanna, it's time."

She looked back at him with a strange look. He fully entered the room, "Is there a problem?"

She covered her mouth and nose and closed her eyes, "I went to the warehouse where it happened to confirm and... there's scorched bodies everywhere. It has to be hundreds. And the smell...."

Itachi was about to speak, but she dropped her hand and looked at him, "Itachi. I understand that you want to give Superman a chance.... but after something like this?? That's just pure evil."

Itachi pondered his next words for a few moments, 'Now is probably a better time than any,' He sat down on a chair near a dresser, "My brother's name is Sasuke. He was eight when I killed our clan. He lost everything like Clark did, and in a way, I was his Joker," as he kept on talking she started to pay close attention to his words, "I was hoping for my brother to be the one to kill me, to avenge our clan. Although to do that he seeked out power. He abandoned his village at fourteen to join a killer who had assassinated the leader of our village."

"Almost like when Clark bore a Yellow ring."

"Exactly..... Well eventually he succeeded and killed me. Although after that. A man named Obito revealed the truth behind the Uchiha clan massacre to Sasuke. Which changed his goals to something much different. Now he wanted to destroy our village. On his new path of revenge, he nearly killed his best friend, his old teammate, his ex sensei, and he sacrificed his current teammate to kill the man who manipulated me. At this point killing his friends meant nothing to him. I'm sure that Superman probably feels the same right now."

At this point she was sitting on a chair next to him, "What happened next?"

"His goals changed again after he talked to all the reanimated Kage, including myself. This time he planned on killing all of the world leaders and becoming the one ruler over everyone. He believed that as long as everyone feared one God-like figure above them, there would never be any risk of war. Although his best friend beat him and brought him back to the light," he couldn't help but smile, "Right now he helps protect the world, and he's starting a family...." After a moment the smile dropped from his face. "We're going to experience the worst of it soon. Superman is going to want to become the feared God-like figure soon..... there's no Kryptonite anywhere, and he has a yellow lantern ring again."

Itachi looked down at the ground and held his hands together. For the first time ever, Zatanna thought she saw genuine concern on his face. She put a hand on top of his and he looked up at her, "We've had flawless victories so far, I'm sure that he'll be defeated just like your brother was."

Their eye contact lasted for a while before Manhunter knocked on the door, "Hawkman has been notified of our plan today. It's time."

Zatanna realized that she was still holding onto his hands and obtained a light blush before they both stood up and started making their way out the door. Before opening the door Itachi rested his hand on the doorknob, "Thank you."

She looked up, "Huh?"

He looked back, "Thank you. Superman is many times stronger than anyone I've ever faced, so I started having some doubts. But you're right." He turned back towards the door and exited.

In Germany both Superboy and Wondergirl were sneaking into the home where the fake Superman was. Wonder Girl looked to her side at Superboy, "How exactly are we supposed to convince him to fight Superman anyways?"

He shrugged, "Maybe I could pretend to be related to him or something."

"And then?"

"We'll just wing it from there."

They heard sounds from the living room. "Who am the man on TV? He not Superman!"

They heard the sound of something being broken and a moment later a TV flew through the door they were next to at a speed that took it off its hinges. Bizarro noticed the two of them and his eyes started to glow red. "WHO AM YOU?!"

They both put their hands up defensively, "Wow! Superman calm down! It's me, your brother."

Bizarro's eyes stopped glowing red, "Am... brother?" He noticed the similar appearance, although what really convinced him was the Superman symbol on Superboy's chest.

"Don't you remember me?" He started to gesture with his hands and they both had fake smiles.

Bizarro scratched his chin before asking, "If you brother. Then you know lots about Superman?"

Superboy and Wondergirl glanced at each other briefly before nodding simultaneously, "Yeah. We both know a lot about you."

"Tell Superman everything what you know about Superman."

They both started thinking about what to start with first, and Wondergirl started first, "You're the greatest Superhero on Earth. Everyone looks up to you. You're like the symbol of peace, a savior!"

Bizarro smiled and put his hands on his hips, "Me am savior?"

Superboy went next, "But there's a fake Superman out there that's ruined your reputation. Now everyone fears you."

Bizarro's fist clenched and his face contorted in anger, "Where am he?!"

"He should be at the Hall Of Justice right now."

Bizarro flew off right away and Wondergirl sighed and became less tense, "Whew, that was easier than I thought it would be."

"Yeah it was. Although we should get back to training now."

"Wait."

He turned around, "Yeah?"

"All that stuff you said, about their being a evil Superman trying to replace him... was that just to convince him, or...."

Superboy looked at the ground, "I don't know.... I was just saying whatever came to mind."

She opened her mouth to speak again. But decided against it."

After they were brought back to the Tower Of Fate, Itachi, Zatanna, Manhunter, Tim, and Hawkman arrived near where Hawkgirl was patrolling. Itachi handed Manhunter the comms device of Damian and they were transported away, "Tropelet."

As soon as Manhunter and Tim were positioned on the other side of the country, Manhunter changed into Damian and called Cyborg, "Cyborg. I've taken out Tim, but I'm having trouble with Wondergirl. Can you send some assistance?"

"Damian.... sure. We're sending Wonder Woman to assist. Just wait there."

Cyborg cut off the comms and contacted Raven, Wonder Woman, and Hades who had recently returned to Earth after escaping Apokolips. "Guys, I'm pretty sure one of Itachi's people is trying to bait one of us out again. But they won't expect three. You three are the closest, so can you check it out?"

They all answered yes in their own ways and started flying there.

Manhunter asked, "Should we be worried?" Tim smirked, he had recently learned about the new comms channel from Lex and hacked into it, which was how they both heard Cyborgs message. "It doesn't matter if they find out we're bait. That just attracts more people here away from the real target. This time and place was specifically chosen because Hawkgirl was the farthest away and wouldn't be asked to come here. It's the perfect bait."

"Smart, but we shouldn't overstay our welcome. Let's go." Tim dropped the comms device and they both signaled Zatanna to send them back to the Tower.at the same time a red and blue blur crashed into the Hall Of Justice in front of Superman. "You are fake Superman!"

He raised a brow, "I am?"

"Yes! Stop it right now!"

"You want me to stop being myself?"

"Yes!"

He smirked, "This isn't some ruse. You actually believe you're me."

"No! You are not you. Me am you!"

While that went on, Itachi and Hawkman found Hawkgirl. "What are we waiting for, Itachi?"

"Well if we wait for the right moment, we can knock her out without any trouble."

Hawkman stood up and started to fly towards her. "That is unnecessary.-- SHIERA!"

Itachi sighed and looked on at how the fight was going to go. "I told you that I would kill you next time you lay a hand on me."

They both swung their maces at each other violently almost like they were trying to knock each other's heads off. Zatanna sat next to Itachi looking at the scene behind a low wall. "It's kind of hard to believe that they've been together for hundreds of years when they seem to be at each other's necks like now. I doubt their relationship can recover after something like this."

"It does seem that way. But my brother married a woman that he tried to kill multiple times, and she's never been happier. So it's not out of the question."

After learning the surprising bit of info about his brother she stared at him blankly for a minute before turning back to the fight.

Unlike last time, Hawkman was winning this time. He landed multiple blows and after she missed a blind swing, he landed his mace against her dome which sent her hurling into the ground, unconscious.

"Alright, that's six down now. Now all that's left is Cyborg, Wonder Woman, Raven, Hades, and Superman himself."