[Spoilers] Hiruzen Absolved

[saaaaaadpanda]

With so many questions still left unanswered after today's chapter, I find solace in one thing: Kishi has resolved the inconsistency of Hiruzen's character:

Spoiler

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The fact that he did not authorize the Uchiha massacre and that it was strictly Danzō (& Tobi) behind it makes me feel at ease. Of course, it takes some of the complexity out of his character, but I think it's worth it.

What do you think? Are you happy with this confirmation? Would you have preferred if Hiruzen had authorized the killings?

 

[ziggyZ]

Nah bro, I'm good wif the fact that Hiruzen try's ta fond other means yeh.

 

[Narutohokage7]

I would of been upset if Hizuren had authorized the killings.

 

[Darth Wignus]

No no I'm totally ok with this Hiruzen should have this stain on his name.

 

[saaaaaadpanda]

No no I'm totally ok with this Hiruzen should have this stain on his name.

Why do you think that? I mean I understand if he actually authorized the thing, but if he's innocent of that, why ask for his name to be blemished?

 

[ShishaMastah420]

Hiruzen has been a cool old dude from the start...

 

[saaaaaadpanda]

Hiruzen has been a cool old dude from the start...

Yup, and I appreciate that Kishi finally confirmed it.

 

[Sarutobi Sasuke]

It would have been inconsistent with his character. I think Danzo once said that the only reason Hiruzen looked so good was because he did the dirty work. Which is true to a cretain degree but most of his underground approaches were unnecessary and costly in lives.

Plus Danzo was always busy conspiring with enemies of Konoha. Konoha would have been a much better place without Danzo.

 

[Whiteknight]

With so many questions still left unanswered after today's chapter, I find solace in one thing: Kishi has resolved the inconsistency of Hiruzen's character:

Spoiler

You must be registered for see images

The fact that he did not authorize the Uchiha massacre and that it was strictly Danzō (& Tobi) behind it makes me feel at ease. Of course, it takes some of the complexity out of his character, but I think it's worth it.

What do you think? Are you happy with this confirmation? Would you have preferred if Hiruzen had authorized the killings?

I do feel much better about Hiruzen. As far as he is concerned, he said "No" to the massacre, then he wakes up the next morning and Itachi has apparently gone rogue and done it anyway.

Of course, Hiruzen didn't really do anything to stop it. He said he wanted words and strategy, but he didn't make it happen before anything went wrong.

I still think that the single best thing that could have been done would have been for Hiruzen to name Itachi as the fifth hokage. Hiruzen was old, he had already tried to retire once, and the Uchiha were feeling disenfranchised and removed from the leadership of the village.

If I were Hiruzen, I would have done two things and done them immediately:

1) Make Itachi Hokage, or nominate him for immediate consideration of the Jonin
2) Invited some Uchiha (Itachi's father, perhaps?) to become sitting members of the elders council to help participate in the highest level decision making of the village

If the Uchiha were willing to rebel because they didn't think they were participating in the leadership of the village, making an Uchiha (and Itachi was the most loyal AND the most talented Uchiha) the hokage and making Uchiha members of the elder's council would have made those problems go away. He didn't do that, and the world would have been MUCH MUCH different if he had.

 

[saaaaaadpanda]

It would have been inconsistent with his character. I think Danzo once said that the only reason Hiruzen looked so good was because he did the dirty work. Which is true to a cretain degree but most of his underground approaches were unnecessary and costly in lives.

Plus Danzo was always busy conspiring with enemies of Konoha. Konoha would have been a much better place without Danzo.

While I love Hiruzen, I understand Danzo. Many of the things he did were unethical, but would the Leaf be better of without him? I personally think not. Focusing only on the Uchiha massacre, was it said? Yes. Would more people have died had they waited and civil war erupted? Probably. It's a tough world out there and binary opposites like good and evil rarely apply... except for Hiruzen. He's a swell guy.

If I were Hiruzen, I would have done two things and done them immediately:

1) Make Itachi Hokage, or nominate him for immediate consideration of the Jonin
2) Invited some Uchiha (Itachi's father, perhaps?) to become sitting members of the elders council to help participate in the highest level decision making of the village

He may have been working on things. Delicate political issues don't fall into place immediately. Naming Itachi as Hokage would have been ill advised. Itachi was young and without leadership experience. Being powerful on its does not make you leadership material. Naming someone like Fugaku to the council would have been wise and Hiruzen may have been working on it, but never got the chance. We just don't know.

 

[ReLax -]

It was always said he wasn't behind it. Itachi confronted him before informing him, and Hiruzen was shocked, he also closed Danzo root because of it, before they started acting in the shadow.

 

[Michael92]

I do feel much better about Hiruzen. As far as he is concerned, he said "No" to the massacre, then he wakes up the next morning and Itachi has apparently gone rogue and done it anyway.

Of course, Hiruzen didn't really do anything to stop it. He said he wanted words and strategy, but he didn't make it happen before anything went wrong.

I still think that the single best thing that could have been done would have been for Hiruzen to name Itachi as the fifth hokage. Hiruzen was old, he had already tried to retire once, and the Uchiha were feeling disenfranchised and removed from the leadership of the village.

If I were Hiruzen, I would have done two things and done them immediately:

1) Make Itachi Hokage, or nominate him for immediate consideration of the Jonin
2) Invited some Uchiha (Itachi's father, perhaps?) to become sitting members of the elders council to help participate in the highest level decision making of the village

If the Uchiha were willing to rebel because they didn't think they were participating in the leadership of the village, making an Uchiha (and Itachi was the most loyal AND the most talented Uchiha) the hokage and making Uchiha members of the elder's council would have made those problems go away. He didn't do that, and the world would have been MUCH MUCH different if he had.

The problem with this is that if he had done what you said, the Uchihas might have used this new influence the wrong way, the last real leader that were an Uchiha was the devil impersonated, even though Itachi always had the best in mind, the Uchiha influences would perhaps in the end throw the village in chaos. Although I agree, Itachi would have made an awesome Hokage, but I still think the time would have been wrong. If the truth came out and Sasuke never fought Itachi, causing his death, then maybe, just maybe, he could have come back to the village and been a potential Hokage candidate when Hiruzen died.

 

[Joon]

I knew from the start he wasn't a bad character so... <LOL> He's still cool and been cool, but Danzou is way cooler for what he did, though, I'm not much of the Military approach to ever situation kind of guy. Peace talks are necessary, sometimes.

 

[Cio 14765]

Makes me happy he didnt authorize, I dont think it would have fit his character at all.. That would have made the will of Fire not mean so much

 

[saaaaaadpanda]

Makes me happy he didnt authorize, I dont think it would have fit his character at all.. That would have made the will of Fire not mean so much

Couldn't agree more.