FUJIWARA no Kamako (latter-day FUJIWARA no Kamatari), getting indignant at the tyrannical ruling by the Soga clan and intending to recover authority to the great king family (Imperial Family), first approached Emperor Kotoku to learn that he was not a man of such caliber, much to his despair.
藤原鎌足（のちの藤原鎌足）は、蘇我氏による専横に憤り、大王家（天皇家）へ権力を取り戻すため、まず孝徳天皇と接触するも、その器ではないとあきらめる。