He then aided Sadayo (Ryoshun) IMAGAWA, who was sent as a Kyushu Tandai (commissioner) by Yoshimitsu ASHIKAGA, in stabilizing Kyushu and uprooting the Nancho forces; but gradually became afraid of Ryoshun's increasing power, and worked with Shogun Yoshimitsu, and his own stepfather, Yoshihiro, to bring Ryoshun down.
その後、足利義満の命を受けて九州探題として赴任してきた今川貞世（了俊）の九州平定に協力して南朝勢力の排除に努めたが、次第に了俊の勢力が拡大してきたことを恐れ、将軍の義満や義父の義弘と共謀して了俊の失脚に一役を買った。