The Southern army was attacked at Yoshino, the temporary palace of the Imperial residence.

Feeling too weak to defend the residence, Masatsura marched out with his whole force to meet his assailants.

Kitabatake Chikafusa, meanwhile, led his force towards Izumi, diverting some of the attackers away from the palace.

Kusunoki engaged the enemy commander Kō no Moroyasu in single combat, and, it is said, was about to take Kō's head when he was struck by an arrow; Kusunoki then committed seppuku.

Masatsura, along with his younger brother and second in charge, Masatoki, died during the war.