From around the time of the 19th head, Mochitomo KIKUCHI, the clan began to have conflicts with in the Kikuchi clan about its family estate, and Tamemitsu UDO, the younger brother of the 20th head, Tamekuni KIKUCHI and the adoptive son of the Udo clan, raised an army against the 21st head, Shigetomo KIKUCHI, who was his own nephew, and although he was once lost, after Shigetomo's death he again rose in revolt.
19代菊池持朝のころから菊池氏一族の間で家督をめぐる争いが持ち上がるようになっていたが、20代菊池為邦の弟で宇土氏の養子になっていた宇土為光が、甥である21代菊池重朝に対して挙兵、敗れたものの重朝没後再度挙兵した。