In this regard, when the Heiji Disturbance broke out in 1159, he joined the FUJIWARA no Nobuyori and MINAMOTO no Yoshitomo side, leading his eldest legitimate son, MINAMOTO no Mitsumune, and his nephew, MINAMOTO no Mitsumoto.
その流れの中で平治元年（1159年）に勃発した平治の乱にあたっては、嫡男源光宗や甥の源光基らを率いて藤原信頼、源義朝方に参加。