In 1109, he was ordered by Emperor Shirakawa to hunt down and kill MINAMOTO no Yoshitsuna (a younger brother of MINAMOTO no Yoshiie and the grand uncle of the clan), who had allegedly assassinated Yoshitada, but did not carry it out.
天仁2年（1109年）、義忠暗殺の嫌疑を受けた一族（大叔父）の源義綱（義家の弟）追討を白河天皇に命じられ、これを伏す。