Trying to understand early Muslim history and the companions

Assalamu alaykum. I’ve been trying to learn more about early Islamic history, especially the period of the First Fitna, and honestly it’s been pretty tough. Growing up, we always heard that the Sahaba were the best generation (khayr al-qurun), but then when you read about events like the martyrdom of Uthman ibn Affan, the Battle of the Camel where Aisha, Talha and Zubayr opposed Ali ibn Abi Talib, and the Battle of Siffin between Ali and Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan – where thousands of Muslims ended up fighting each other – it gets really confusing. How do scholars make sense of these conflicts? Do they see them as honest differences in ijtihad, tragic political situations, or something else entirely? I’m not trying to blame or criticize anyone – I’m just genuinely trying to understand this from a faith perspective. If anyone can share references from reliable Sunni scholars or primary sources that explain this in a balanced, academically sound way, I’d really appreciate it. Jazakum Allahu khayran.