I completely agree that he was a legitimate target. I don’t agree with your second sentence; I think he WAS friendlier to the US and would have sought peace with us before the other Japanese leaders would/did. Sadly, though he probably would have been ignored as they ignored his advice about a prolonged naval war with the US.
I meant he himself wouldn’t send out peace feelers; he had no authority to do so, in a disciplined society where independent action was unthinkable.