When the Emperor Godaigo intend to have his son succeed the throne by removing the Imperial Prince Kuniyoshi, who was in the main branch of Daikakuji-to (imperial lineage starting with Emperor Kameyama), Tsunetsugu worked hard to defend the Imperial Prince Kuniyoshi in order to conform to the wishes of the Retired Emperor Gouda.
だが、後醍醐天皇が大覚寺統嫡流である邦良親王を廃して自分の子に皇位継承させようとすると、後宇多上皇の意を受けて邦良親王擁護の為に奔走する。