[step:Extend a degree zero transformation uniquely by induction]Let $(T^i,\partial^i)_{i \geq 0}$ be any cohomological delta functor from $\mathcal A$ to $\mathcal B$, and let
\begin{align*}
\alpha^0: R^0F \longrightarrow T^0
\end{align*}
be a natural transformation. A cohomological delta functor is universal precisely when every such $\alpha^0$ extends uniquely to a morphism of cohomological delta functors. We construct this extension by induction on $i$.
Assume $i>0$, and suppose $\alpha^j: R^jF \to T^j$ has already been constructed for every $j<i$ and is compatible with connecting morphisms in all degrees $<i-1$. For an object $A \in \mathcal A$, choose a short exact sequence
\begin{align*}
0 \longrightarrow A \xrightarrow{u} I \xrightarrow{q} C \longrightarrow 0
\end{align*}
with $I$ injective. The derived-functor long exact sequence contains
\begin{align*}
R^{i-1}F(I) \longrightarrow R^{i-1}F(C) \xrightarrow{\delta_A^{i-1}} R^iF(A) \longrightarrow R^iF(I).
\end{align*}
Since $R^mF(I)=0$ for every $m>0$, exactness implies that $\delta_A^{i-1}$ is an epimorphism when $i>1$. When $i=1$, exactness gives
\begin{align*}
R^0F(I) \longrightarrow R^0F(C) \xrightarrow{\delta_A^0} R^1F(A) \longrightarrow 0,
\end{align*}
so $\delta_A^0$ is also an epimorphism, with kernel equal to the image of $R^0F(I) \to R^0F(C)$.
We define $\alpha_A^i: R^iF(A) \to T^i(A)$ as the unique morphism satisfying
\begin{align*}
\alpha_A^i \circ \delta_A^{i-1}
=
\partial_A^{i-1} \circ \alpha_C^{i-1},
\end{align*}
where $\partial_A^{i-1}:T^{i-1}(C)\to T^i(A)$ is the connecting morphism of $(T^i,\partial^i)_{i\geq0}$ for the chosen short exact sequence. This is well-defined because $\partial_A^{i-1}\circ\alpha_C^{i-1}$ kills $\ker \delta_A^{i-1}$. Indeed, by exactness $\ker\delta_A^{i-1}$ is the image of $R^{i-1}F(I)\to R^{i-1}F(C)$. If $i>1$, this source is zero. If $i=1$, the composite on the image of $R^0F(I)\to R^0F(C)$ equals
\begin{align*}
T^0(q) \xrightarrow{\partial_A^0} T^1(A)
\end{align*}
after applying naturality of $\alpha^0$, and this composite is zero by exactness of the long exact sequence for $T$.
The morphism $\alpha_A^i$ is independent of the chosen injective embedding. Suppose
\begin{align*}
0 \longrightarrow A \xrightarrow{u} I \xrightarrow{q} C \longrightarrow 0,
\qquad
0 \longrightarrow A \xrightarrow{v} J \xrightarrow{r} D \longrightarrow 0
\end{align*}
are two choices with $I$ and $J$ injective. Since $J$ is injective and $u$ is a monomorphism, there is a morphism $s:I\to J$ such that $s\circ u=v$. Let $h:C\to D$ be the induced morphism of cokernels. Naturality of the long exact sequences gives
\begin{align*}
\delta_D^{i-1}\circ R^{i-1}F(h)=R^iF(\operatorname{id}_A)\circ\delta_C^{i-1}=\delta_C^{i-1}
\end{align*}
and
\begin{align*}
\partial_D^{i-1}\circ T^{i-1}(h)=T^i(\operatorname{id}_A)\circ\partial_C^{i-1}=\partial_C^{i-1}.
\end{align*}
Therefore the morphisms produced from the two choices agree after precomposition with the epimorphism $\delta_C^{i-1}$:
\begin{align*}
\alpha_{A,J}^i\circ\delta_C^{i-1}
&=\alpha_{A,J}^i\circ\delta_D^{i-1}\circ R^{i-1}F(h) \\
&=\partial_D^{i-1}\circ\alpha_D^{i-1}\circ R^{i-1}F(h) \\
&=\partial_D^{i-1}\circ T^{i-1}(h)\circ\alpha_C^{i-1} \\
&=\partial_C^{i-1}\circ\alpha_C^{i-1} \\
&=\alpha_{A,I}^i\circ\delta_C^{i-1}.
\end{align*}
Since $\delta_C^{i-1}$ is an epimorphism, $\alpha_{A,J}^i=\alpha_{A,I}^i$.
The same comparison proves naturality. Let $f:A\to A'$ be a morphism in $\mathcal A$, choose short exact sequences $0\to A\to I\to C\to0$ and $0\to A'\to I'\to C'\to0$ with $I'$ injective, and extend $A\xrightarrow{f}A'\to I'$ across $A\to I$ to a morphism $s:I\to I'$. Let $h:C\to C'$ be the induced morphism of cokernels. Naturality of the connecting morphisms and the inductive naturality of $\alpha^{i-1}$ give
\begin{align*}
T^i(f)\circ\alpha_A^i\circ\delta_A^{i-1}
&=T^i(f)\circ\partial_A^{i-1}\circ\alpha_C^{i-1} \\
&=\partial_{A'}^{i-1}\circ T^{i-1}(h)\circ\alpha_C^{i-1} \\
&=\partial_{A'}^{i-1}\circ\alpha_{C'}^{i-1}\circ R^{i-1}F(h) \\
&=\alpha_{A'}^i\circ\delta_{A'}^{i-1}\circ R^{i-1}F(h) \\
&=\alpha_{A'}^i\circ R^iF(f)\circ\delta_A^{i-1}.
\end{align*}
Since $\delta_A^{i-1}$ is an epimorphism, $T^i(f)\circ\alpha_A^i=\alpha_{A'}^i\circ R^iF(f)$. Thus $\alpha^i$ is natural.
The defining equation gives compatibility with the connecting morphism for the chosen effacement sequence. To obtain compatibility for an arbitrary short exact sequence
\begin{align*}
E: 0 \longrightarrow A' \longrightarrow A \longrightarrow A'' \longrightarrow 0,
\end{align*}
we use the effaceability criterion for cohomological delta functors: if a cohomological delta functor $S^*$ has $S^i$ effaceable for every $i>0$, then the induction above produces a unique extension of every degree-zero natural transformation, and that extension is automatically a morphism of delta functors, meaning it commutes with the connecting morphisms attached to every short exact sequence $E$. Its hypotheses have been verified here: $(R^iF,\delta^i)_{i\geq0}$ is a cohomological delta functor, $R^0F\cong F$, and each $R^iF$ for $i>0$ is effaceable by the injective embedding argument. Therefore, for every such $E$ and every $i\geq0$, the square
\begin{align*}
\alpha_{A'}^{i+1}\circ \delta_E^i
=
\partial_E^i\circ \alpha_{A''}^i
\end{align*}
commutes, where $\delta_E^i:R^iF(A'')\to R^{i+1}F(A')$ and $\partial_E^i:T^i(A'')\to T^{i+1}(A')$ denote the connecting morphisms associated to $E$.
Uniqueness follows from the same epimorphism argument on the effacement sequences used in the criterion. If $\beta^i:R^iF\to T^i$ is another degree $i$ extension compatible with connecting morphisms and with $\beta^{i-1}=\alpha^{i-1}$, then for every $A$ and every chosen short exact sequence $0\to A\to I\to C\to0$ with $I$ injective,
\begin{align*}
\beta_A^i\circ\delta_A^{i-1}
=\partial_A^{i-1}\circ\beta_C^{i-1}
=\partial_A^{i-1}\circ\alpha_C^{i-1}
=\alpha_A^i\circ\delta_A^{i-1}.
\end{align*}
Because $\delta_A^{i-1}$ is an epimorphism, $\beta_A^i=\alpha_A^i$. Induction constructs and uniquely determines the morphism of cohomological delta functors extending $\alpha^0$.[/step]