According to one story, when Masako approached him about his ambition to become the fourth shogun, suspecting him of having evil intentions regarding the succession after the death of Sanetomo, he proved his innocence by taking out one of his eyeballs and thoroughly rejecting her offer.
一説によると、実朝の死後その野心を政子に疑われ、四代将軍就任を打診されたが、片眼をえぐり出してこれを拒否したと伝えられる。