His mother, Yōtokuin (養徳院), was Oda Nobunaga's wet nurse, and later became Nobuhide's concubine, bearing him a daughter.

In 1567, he participated in the Siege of Inabayama Castle against the Saitō clan in the first division of Oda Nobunaga's forces, along with Shibata Katsuie.

In 1571, Tsuneoki took part in the burning Siege of Mount Hiei to subdue the followers of the Ishiyama-Honganji; attacks against the Nagashima Ikkō-ikki.

Yoshiaki surrendered, and sending Yoshihiro, his eldest son, as a hostage to Nobunaga.

In 1582, he led 4000 troops, acted as the spearhead in the right wing, and became the chief vassal of Oda family in Hashiba Hideyoshi's force at the Battle of Yamazaki after the Incident at Honnō-ji, helping defeat Akechi Mitsuhide.

In 1583, he assisted Hideyoshi at Battle of Shizugatake against Shibata Katsuie and was given 130,000 koku in Mino Province, and became the lord of Ōgaki Castle.