On October 14 the same year, he accompanied Emperor Shirakawa during his imperial visit to Iwashimizu Hachiman-gu Shrine, and in order to prevent attacks by the warrior monks of Onjo-ji Temple, formed an escort with his younger brother, MINAMOTO no Yoshitsuna, and their retainers but, since they held no official position, they guarded the Emperor using the excuse of being outriders for Kanpaku (chancellor) FUJIWARA no Morozane.
その年の10月14日には白河天皇の石清水八幡宮行幸に際し、その園城寺の悪僧（僧兵）の襲撃を防ぐために、弟・源義綱と二人でそれぞれの郎党を率いてを護衛したが、このとき本官（官職）が無かったため関白・藤原師実の前駆の名目で護衛を行った。