Naokata was in the position of a direct descendant of Taira no Sadamori and had cooperated with Hitachi-Heishi (Taira clan) which were also descendants of Taira no Sadamori.
直方は平貞盛流の嫡流ともいえる立場であり、同じ貞盛流の常陸平氏と連携していた。