However, as negotiations with Masamoto resulted in failure, he changed his tactics and, in an attempt to return to Kyoto, launched a military attack in collaboration with Sadakage ASAKURA and Hisanobu (Naoyoshi) HATAKEYAMA but was defeated in the battle and fled to Yoshioki OUCHI's domain in Suo.
ところが政元派との和睦は不調となり、朝倉貞景や政長の子である畠山尚順（尚慶）と同調して軍事攻撃による上洛へ方針転換したが敗北し、周防の大内義興を頼って落ち延びた。