In the course of the violence that erupted as a result of factional rivalries, Ōtomo, having taken the throne as emperor, killed himself after reigning for less than a year.
Emperor Tenji ascended to the throne and set up a capital at Ōmi-Ōtsu (currently Ōtsu city, Shiga Prefecture).
Realizing he would not live much longer, he wished that, after his death, the Imperial Dynasty would pass to his son, Prince Ōtomo.
However, the prince was clever enough to know his trick, and answered that he had no will to succeed the throne, wanting rather that Ōtomo be the next emperor.
Ōtomo summoned six subjects to the emperor's bedroom and made them swear to help him in front of his father.
Meanwhile, Prince Ōama pretended to be a monk at the temple in Yoshino, all the while looking for the opportunity to instigate a rebellion against his nephew and drive him away.
Many challenges stood in the way of Ōama's forces: in some counties, guerrilla attacks prevented their march forward for many days.
Every time they faced such difficulties, however, they fought bravely and patiently, gaining supporters to their cause along the way.
The victor eventually burnt the capital down and returned to Asuka, where he built the Asuka-Kiyomihara Palace and married Empress Uno no Sarara, who was also his niece.