The Mori clan and Nobunaga were on friendly terms during the times of Motonari MORI, but his successor Terumoto MORI protected Yoshiaki in the bakufu, and in addition, formed an alliance with Ishiyama Hongan-ji Temple, which was the largest of the anti-Nobunaga forces, growing more hostile toward Nobunaga.
毛利氏と信長とは、毛利元就の代においては友好的な関係であったが、その後継の毛利輝元は義昭を庇護し（幕府）、さらに最大の反信長勢力である石山本願寺と同盟し、信長への敵対の態度を強めていった。