Nobunaga tried to go to Akechi-jo Castle with his heir Nobutada ODA for rear guard (reinforcement), but he withdrew to Gifu because Katsuyori had already taken Akechi-jo Castle by storm.
信長は嫡男・織田信忠と共に明智城の後詰（援軍）に出陣しようとしたが、それより前に勝頼が明智城を落としたため、信長は岐阜に撤退した。