Some people say that Nobunaga accomplished housecleaning as a punishment against Sakuma and Hayashi who insisted on getting more rights and interest than deserved by their contributions.
重臣として織田家に居座りつつ、活躍以上の利権を自己主張する佐久間や林に対し、懲罰的粛清を断行したと見る向きもある。