At this time, however, OTOMO no Fukei, having made up his mind to work for Oama no oji, started to collect soldiers to raise an army and established secret communication with SAKANOUE no Kumake who was one of the Wakyo's rusutsukasa (guards of the city) then and with twelve clans of ayanoatai (漢直) at the same time.
しかしこのとき、大海人皇子側につくことを決めた大伴吹負は挙兵をめざして人数を集め、倭京の留守司の一人坂上熊毛とともに、一二の漢直に内応を求めた。