Nobutaka was adopted by Tomomori KANBE, the lord of Kanbe-jo Castle (Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture) which was surrendered when Nobunaga subdued Ise Province in 1568, and he took over the Kanbe clan in 1572 when Tomomori was forced to retire by Nobunaga.
永禄11年（1568年）、信長が伊勢国を平定した際に、降伏した神戸城（三重県鈴鹿市）城主・神戸具盛の養子となり、具盛が信長によって隠居させられた後の元亀3年（1572年）に神戸氏を継ぐ。