In June 1333, when gokenin hitto (head of an immediate vassal of the shogunate in the Kamakura and Muromachi through Edo periods) Takauji Ashikaga, who was his affine, lead a rebellion against the bakufu while he was on an expedition in Kyoto and captured Rokuhara Tandai (an administrative and judicial agency in Rokuhara, Kyoto), Moritoki's position in the bakufu became weaker and he was suspended by Takatoki.
元弘3年/正慶2年（1333年）5月(旧暦)、姻戚関係にあった御家人筆頭の足利高氏（尊氏）が遠征先の京都で幕府に叛旗を翻し、六波羅探題を攻め落とすと、守時の幕府内における立場は悪化し、高時から謹慎を申し付けられる。