In Kyushu, the Otomo clan and the Ryuzoji clan had informed of their intention to obey Nobunaga and, therefore, the Shimazu clan alone was obliged to compete with Nobunaga.
九州は大友氏や龍造寺氏が信長に属する意志を伝えており、島津氏は単独で信長に対抗せざるを得ない情勢であった。