Board Thread:Naruto Discussions/@comment-25531508-20140923043228/@comment-1018594-20140923052419

Like ItachiWasAHero said, Hiruzen's abilities were never fully shown. I honestly think he's underrated. Shikamaru said the ENTIRE Shinobi Alliance was done for if Hiruzen fell against Guruguru, and I believe him.

If anything, Danzo did have a valid point: Hiruzen was too much of an idealist, especially when it came to Orochimaru and the Uchiha. Hiruzen said he knew about everything Danzo did, but let him do his thing because, like Danzo told him to his face, he didn't have enough darkness in his heart to place the village above ethics and morals.