Nevertheless, Shikanosuke was murdered at the ferry of Ai (阿井の渡し), located at Ainowatashi (合の渡) in Bitchu Province (Takahashi City in Okayama Prefecture, as it is known today), while being taken to the whereabouts of Terumoto MORI under guard.
しかし毛利輝元の下へ護送される途上の備中国合の渡（岡山県高梁市）の阿井の渡しにて謀殺された。