Later, Nagayoshi diligently worked for the Hosokawa clan as their main retainer; after he defeated such enemies as the forces of Nagamasa KIZAWA and Naganori YUSA one after another, he finally rose to the most powerful main retainer position in the Hosokawa clan, who was actually Tenkabito (person becoming the ruler of the country), after the Onin no ran (Rebellion of Onin).
その後、長慶は細川氏の重臣として忠実に働き、木沢長政や遊佐長教らの敵勢力を次々と打ち破っていき、応仁の乱収束後に事実上の天下人であった細川氏の最有力重臣にまでのし上がった。