Initially, he was an ascetic monk in Yokokawa Senjinin in Mt. Hiei; however, he moved to Mino Province to become a guest freeloader for Dosan SAITO because he preferred the military lifestyle over a monk's.
はじめ比叡山横川専心院の修行僧であったが、武事を好み、美濃国に下って斎藤道三の食客となっていた。