The Hokage sitting on the other side was silent as well.
Several young shinobi trembled, their hands clutching the edges of their chairs, terrified they would lose control under that gaze.
The voices in the hall grew quieter and quieter.
Until, at last, every discussion ceased.
The entire conference hall fell silent.
Ren withdrew his gaze and looked down at the assembled Daimyo of the Countries, village leaders, and powerful dignitaries.
"Everyone."
His voice reached every ear clearly.
"You must all be curious why I summoned figures from across the shinobi world to hold this Seireitei Conference."
Everyone's attention focused entirely on Ren.
The Raikage sat up straight.
The Hokage raised his head.
The Daimyo of the Countries held their breath.
They had waited so long, endured the Uchiha's intimidation, and traveled the long road to Seireitei, all for this moment.
Ren looked at them, his voice gradually deepening.
"More than sixty years have passed since the Warring States Era ended and shinobi established the hidden village system."
"But what has happened in those sixty-odd years?"
No one spoke.
Ren continued:
"The First Shinobi World War swept through every nation."
"The Second Shinobi World War spread the flames of battle across the land."
"The Third Shinobi World War left countless shinobi and ordinary people dead on the battlefield."
"Village waged war against village, nation fought against nation."
"When fathers died, their sons took up their weapons."
"When brothers died, their families carried on their revenge."
"Hatred between villages endured, generation after generation."
His voice echoed through the conference hall.
The expressions of those below grew increasingly grim.
The Raikage remembered the shinobi who had fallen in Kumogakure.
The Hokage remembered the rows of gravestones in Konoha's cemetery.
Those from Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure, along with the Daimyo of the Countries,