In 987, he was chosen as Ushoben (Minor Controller of the Right), and then Uchuben (Middle Controller of the Right), both the staff of Benkan (Oversight Department: division of the daijokan responsible for controlling central and provincial government offices), thereby working with his colleague FUJIWARA no Arikuni as Kaneie's eyes and ears.
永延元年（987年）には右少弁→右中弁と弁官の要員に抜擢され、同僚の藤原有国と共に兼家の耳目として活躍する。