Also, as he unnaturally ran away to Shimotsuke Province and surrendered to MINAMOTO no Yoshiie, some people think he was possibly in a relationship with MINAMOTO no Yoriyoshi and Yoshiie as the loads and the vassal at the Zen Kunen no Eki (Former Nine Years' Campaign).
また、不自然に下野まで逃亡し、源義家に投降していることから、前九年の役で源頼義、義家と主従関係を結んでいた可能性も指摘されている。