Don't blame him for what he said either. Especially given his cirumstances & how stressed out/saddened he was. That was less than one week after Shisui's death, he was still a double spy, he was going on too many missions, he had to choose between love (clan) or logic (save village of 1000s). And he wanted to take suspicion for Shisui's death.I'd lose hope too if their own pride got in the way of them wanting to negotiate.
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Also, it was the clan's paranoia which seemed silly as well. They were thinking a coup was the only answer and didn't want to talk to Hiruzen...who was the most lenient and beloved hokage. :/ Not much hope there. Kishimoto even wrote in the databook that the Uchiha clan and the village didn't have a chance at coexisting peacefully, due to the tension that was present during the founding of Konoha that was carried on throughout all the years. That Senju and Uchiha rivalry.