While being opposed to Nagayasu MIYOSHI, Tomomichi IWANARI and Masayasu MIYOSHI, Hisahide for a while gained the hegemony in Kinai, which lead to the full blossoming of the Matsunaga clan; however, in 1568, when Nobunaga ODA came to Kyoto in support of Yoshiaki ASHIKAGA, Yoshiteru's younger brother, since Hisahide noticed Nobunaga's excellent caliber and overwhelming military power, Hisahide presented a fine art work--a tsukumonasu (Chinese tea caddy)--to Nobunaga as a sign that he would yield, and thus he became Nobunaga's vassal.
そして三好三人衆と対立しながらも一時は畿内における覇権を掌握し、松永氏の最盛期を築き上げたが、1568年、織田信長が義輝の弟・足利義昭を奉じて上洛してくると、信長の優れた器量と圧倒的軍事力を知って、名器・九十九髪茄子を信長に献上して降伏し、信長の家臣となっている。