In 1565, he was awarded Kaneyama-jo Castle in Mino province; during Nobunaga's advance on Kyoto, he and Katsuie SHIBATA served as leaders of Nobunaga's vanguard (fighting in the Battle of Shoryuji-jo Castle, among others), and so after Nobunaga's successful march on Kyoto he was given Usayama-jo Castle in Omi province.
永禄8年（1565年）には美濃金山城(美濃国)を与えられ、信長上洛の際には柴田勝家と共に先鋒を務め（勝竜寺城勝竜寺城の戦いなど）、上洛後には近江国宇佐山城を与えられた。