There was an increase of people called 'akuto' and their participation in wars during the period of the Northern and Southern Courts (Japan) at least from former powers, and Enshin AKAMATSU and Masashige KUSUNOKI were their representatives.
南北朝時代には少なくとも旧勢力からは「悪党」と呼ばれる者の増加と参戦があり、例えば赤松円心や、楠木正成は代表的な悪党とされる。