Attempting a breakthrough in the battle, Nobunaga targeted Kii Saiga (the estuary region of the Kino-kawa River around the present Wakayama City) which was the base of Saiga shu who was the main force of the Hongan-ji Temple.
信長は戦局を打開すべく、本願寺の主力となっていた雑賀衆の本拠である紀伊雑賀（現和歌山市を中心とする紀ノ川河口域）に狙いをつける。