It was said that Fujitsuna felt strange for this selection and asked the reason, and then declined the appointment by saying, "if you say you employ a person on the basis of a dream, it is possible that you would put him to the sword also by mear dream. A person receiving an award without his achievement is same as a traitor"; his sensible reply impressed Tokiyori.
藤綱はその抜擢を怪しんで理由を問い、「夢によって人を用いるというのならば、夢によって人を斬ることもあり得る。功なくして賞を受けるのは国賊と同じである」と任命を辞し、時頼はその賢明な返答に感じるところがあったという。