Chapter 27

Located in the same galactic sector as Earth's solar system, Planet Rimbor was infamous. Not for its advancements in technology—though it had plenty of those—but for the way power and corruption intertwined at its very core.

It was the place where five members of the Justice League had unknowingly attacked during the 16-hour period under Vandal Savage's control. The consequences had been devastating, but what made it worse was that Rimbor's so-called justice system had chosen to ignore the obvious truth.

Rimbor was, in every sense of the word, a criminal hub.

At a glance, its government appeared to be a well-structured system of law and order, but anyone with half a brain could see the reality—it was no different from the corrupt nations back on Earth, where those at the top only cared about themselves. Justice? Morality? Those were nothing more than decorative words used to fool the masses.

And what better way to uphold their false sense of justice than by putting five of the strongest heroes in the galaxy on trial for terrorist charges?

Never mind that Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, and Hawkwoman had been clearly acting against their will. Never mind that anyone with a functional brain could tell that they had not been in control of their actions. The courts of Rimbor pressed on with the ridiculous farce, detaining them under false charges.

Why?

Because Rimbor's leadership wasn't blind.

They knew exactly what had happened. They knew the heroes weren't responsible. But justice didn't pay the bills—corruption did.

The Reach and The Light had bought them off.

All it took was the right price, and the powers that be turned a blind eye to the truth. Spreading misinformation about the Justice League served their agenda—it made the League look weak, untrustworthy. It diminished their influence in the galactic community, isolating Earth from potential allies while the Reach and other villainous factions strengthened their hold.

And with five of Earth's greatest defenders locked up on Rimbor, the planet had become vulnerable.

That was the real goal.

The alien invaders weren't attacking Earth with full force—no, that wasn't the plan. Instead, they were biding their time, testing the planet's defenses, and spreading fear with empty threats. They knew that if they waited long enough, public confidence in the League would waver, and when the time was right, they would strike for real.

Meanwhile, the Justice League had no choice but to play along.

If they resisted—if they tried to forcibly retrieve their comrades—it would be seen as an act of war against Rimbor. And thanks to the connections that Rimbor's leadership had with various empires across the galaxy, Earth would suddenly find itself under siege by multiple factions.

A full-scale galactic war would erupt, and Earth, despite its heroes, was not ready for that.

So, for now, they had to follow the game, find proof, and win their people back the right way.

That was why members of Young Justice and the remaining League members had been stationed on Rimbor, working tirelessly to communicate with the courts, provide evidence, and negotiate a way to bring their friends home.

But with corruption running rampant and the enemy always a step ahead, it was clear…

This wouldn't be an easy fight.

The moment Naruto and Kushina stepped onto Rimbor, they were struck speechless.

It was beyond anything they could have imagined.

For two people who had grown up in a world where black-and-white televisions, giant computers that barely functioned, and radios were considered technological marvels, this place might as well have been a glimpse into the future.

Naruto's sharp blue eyes darted around, taking in the levitating buildings, flying vehicles, and roadways constructed from pure energy.

It was like stepping into a dream, an explosion of colors, light, and movement, far beyond what he had ever seen on Earth.

Kushina, standing beside him, was equally mesmerized, though her sharp mind quickly adjusted to the reality of their situation.

"I was just as shocked when I first came here," BB said with a knowing smile, watching their expressions. He had seen this reaction before, the moment of awe that came when stepping into a civilization so far ahead.

And yet…

Despite the futuristic marvels, Rimbor felt eerily familiar.

Beneath all the technology, the same corruption, the same greed, and the same evil lurked in its shadows.

This wasn't some utopia. This was a capital of crime, a den of power-hungry elites who cared more about their wealth than true justice.

Naruto's awe quickly faded as reality sank in.

"So… why are we here?" he finally asked, tearing his gaze away from the spectacle. He understood the situation but not the purpose of their visit.

BB folded his arms. "We're here to show our faces and give the others a break. They need to check back on Earth, and we'll hold their place in the meantime."

As they neared their destination, Naruto and Kushina spotted the familiar figures of Zatanna, Batman, Cyborg, and Captain Marvel waiting for them.

The exchange was brief—a quick transfer of case data and a few hurried greetings.

There wasn't time for introductions, not when the situation was growing worse by the minute.

The court hearing had been postponed again, and Rimbor's leadership was pushing hard for a life sentence for the detained heroes. It was already a miracle that the League had managed to delay the verdict for this long.

Perhaps, if they had known the true nature of this planet earlier, things would have played out differently. But Rimbor had played its cards well—masking its corruption behind a glamorous, high-tech façade, tricking outsiders into believing it was truly a place of law and order.

Now, time was running out, and their options were growing thin.

As Naruto and Kushina took their places outside the court, awaiting the next move, a familiar presence arrived at Naruto's side.

Raven.

She had chosen to accompany them after Naruto invited her along. Kara, on the other hand, had stayed behind—taking her cousin's place in Metropolis.

This was the first time Naruto had met most of the others in person, but pleasantries would have to wait.

Because on Rimbor, justice was nothing but a game, and right now—they were losing.

Naruto's sharp blue eyes narrowed as he analyzed the situation, his mind working through the possibilities and risks.

"We lack information about this place, and that's never a good thing. It puts us at risk of being led by the nose."

It was a lesson deeply ingrained in his ninja upbringing—knowledge was power.

Had Jiraiya not sent the critical intel about Pain, Konoha would have been wiped out without a fight.

In the past, Naruto had relied more on instinct and sheer determination, but now? Now, he was thinking strategically, piecing together the skills and knowledge he had gained over the years.

This wasn't just about fighting—this was about understanding the battlefield before the battle even began.

Raven's dark eyes met his, her tone even.

"What do you have in mind?"

She had considered something similar, but hadn't voiced it. She hadn't been thinking about helping—not in the way Naruto was.

Naruto responded through the mental link Raven had set up when they landed, ensuring no one overheard their conversation.

"We explore the planet and investigate the people involved in the trial. Just Raven and me—since we can avoid sight easily. I'll make clones to replace us."

A sharp intake of breath came from BB, who had been listening.

"Are you sure? One mistake could start a war. We thought about it, but the risk is too high. Can you take responsibility for the deaths that might happen if you fail?"

Naruto met BB's gaze without hesitation.

"I will take responsibility if anything happens. Remember—I'm not part of the team, nor am I a citizen of Earth."

The confidence in his voice was unshakable.

He wasn't stupid. He knew the risks—but fear of what could go wrong wasn't going to stop him.

If you always focused on the negatives, you'd never move forward.

"If you see an opportunity, take it. Hold tight and fight off the threats that come your way."

That was the reality of life.

Nothing worth having came easy.

If you wanted to reach higher, you had to take risks—or be left behind.

BB let out a small sigh before chuckling.

"I get it. But bro, you're always part of us. We're friends through it all."

Naruto smirked, his expression softening slightly.

"Thanks. I appreciate that."

Raven, who had been listening, felt something stir inside her.

She was used to being alone.

She had pushed people away for so long that she sometimes forgot how important friendships were.

Now, standing among them, she realized how much it mattered.

"I also have no problem with this. I'm not even from this dimension, so they can't connect me to Earth."

Kushina, standing beside them, nodded in approval.

For her, this was just another mission—spying and information gathering were basic ninja tasks. 

"Okay," BB finally said. "I look forward to your success. But if things get too risky—abort the mission."

Naruto grinned.

"Don't worry. I have Raven to remind me of our limitations."

He shot Raven a teasing look.

She sighed, folding her arms. "Someone has to keep you from getting killed."

With the plan set, Naruto formed two small clones.

The tiny figures zipped into the air, scanning the area for threats before returning to their posts.

A moment later, they expanded to full size, perfectly mimicking Naruto and Raven.

"Let's move."

As their clones took their place, the real Naruto and Raven vanished into the city—silent shadows slipping into the unknown.

While Naruto and Raven silently gathered intelligence on Rimbor, far away in the vastness of space, Earth had once again entered the sights of Mongul.

A galactic tyrant, the warlord of Warworld, Mongul was a monster of a being—his yellow skin and red eyes made him look like an unstoppable force of destruction.

His power came not just from his immense strength but from his war machine—the moon-sized Warworld, a battle fortress armed with weapons capable of erasing planets.

"Soon… Earth will learn what true war looks like."

Mongul's history with Superman was a bitter one.

The Kryptonian had been captured, forced to fight in Mongul's coliseum, and had defeated every foe put in front of him—yet refused to kill.

Mongul had been infuriated by this, taking matters into his own hands. With cosmic energy-enhanced strength, he had beaten Superman to the brink of death.

"You could have been a king among warriors, Superman. Instead, you chose weakness."

But before Mongul could finish him off, Superman had been teleported away.

That alone was enough to enrage him. But worse? Superman had inspired Mongul's own people to rise against him.

It had shattered Mongul's image of absolute power.

The warlord had been forced into retreat, leaving behind the ruins of his empire.

That humiliation burned deep inside him. He swore revenge.

But Mongul was no fool.

He learned from his mistakes.

He built a new Warworld, this time ensuring that his servants were mind-controlled—incapable of rebellion.

He had waited. Plotted. Gathered his power.

And then, an opportunity had fallen right into his hands.

Mongul had planned to attack Superman directly—but the existence of the Justice League had made him hesitate.

But then, fate intervened.

He encountered another Kryptonian, but this one was… different.

A cyborg.

A being with a deep hatred for Earth.

This Cyborg Kryptonian had approached Mongul with an offer:

"Alone, neither of us may win. But together? Earth doesn't stand a chance."

Mongul was intrigued.

And when he learned that five of the strongest Justice League members were detained on Rimbor, he saw his perfect opportunity.

"Then let us show Earth what it means to defy us."

The appearance of Warworld triggered every early-warning defense system on Earth.

In the Watchtower, the Justice League's headquarters, alarms blared as the giant artificial moon appeared on their screens.

The younger heroes—those who had never seen such a thing before—stared in shock.

But the veterans of the League?

They had seen worse.

That didn't mean they underestimated the threat.

They knew exactly how bad this was.

"They're timing this perfectly," Batman growled. "They knew some of us would be away."

Before they could launch a counterattack, Warworld opened fire.

Missiles rained down on Earth, each one capable of erasing entire cities—but that wasn't the worst part.

The explosions released toxic radiation and unknown poisons, spreading across vast areas.

This immediately forced Dr. Fate out of the battle, as he had to contain the spread of magical corruption affecting the planet.

Zatanna was forced to assist him, leaving two of the League's strongest mystics occupied from the very start.

And with that, the battle for Earth's survival began.