After the death of Kenshin in 1578, a dispute over the line of succession broke out--Kagetora UESUGI, who was Kenshin's adopted son sent from the Hojo clan as a hostage and was Kagekatsu's elder (or younger) brother (the Otate Disturbance).
天正6年（1578年）、謙信が死去すると、北条家からの人質として送られてきた謙信の養子で義兄（または義弟）上杉景虎との相続争いが勃発する（御館の乱）。