In addition, interpreting "Akechi" in 'Eiroku Rokunen (1563) Syoyakunin pu' to mean Mitsuhide, some theories suggest that he had been serving Yoshiteru ASHIKAGA after leaving Mino Province until he served the Asakura clan.
なお、『永禄六年諸役人附』に見える「明智」を光秀と解し、美濃以後朝倉氏に仕えるまでの間、足利義輝に仕えていたとする説もある。