However, due to never-ending attacks by Sadayo IMAGAWA (Ryoshun), who had been the old enemy since the time of his grandfather Takemitsu KIKUCHI, Taketomo was eventually forced to retreat from Mt. Kora and escaped to his main base in Higo.
しかし祖父・菊池武光時代からの宿敵である今川貞世（了俊）の攻勢は止まる事を知らず、遂に武朝は高良山からも撤退を余儀なくされ、拠点の肥後に逃亡した。