Naotsune belonged to the Soke (head family) of the KUMAGAI clan; however, by the time Naotsune succeeded the family estate, the KUMAGAI clan had been split and its power had been dispersed into each branch family.
直経は熊谷氏宗家であったが、この頃までに熊谷氏は分裂し、その勢力は各分家に分散していた。