[A] huge incident, known as the February Disturbance, occurred in Kamakura and then in Kyoto. This was an attack on the Hōjō clan and their retainers. On the 11th in Kamakura, Hōjō Tokiakira, also called Nagoe Tokiakira, and Hōjō Noritoki were put to death. Continuing on the 15th of the same month in Kyoto, Hōjō Tokisuke of the southern quarter of Rokuhara Tandai killed Hōjō Yoshimune of the northern sector of the same area. Hōjō Tokimune, the tokusā, considered his illegitimate elder brother, Tokisuke, as a threat to the his established authority. This incident, therefore, was a purge intended both to solve disunity within the Shogunate and to consolidate the authority of the tokusō.

The February Disturbance was the realization of the internal rebellion predicted by the Risshō Ankoku-ron. When Nichiren Shōnin was arrested on September 12 of the previous year, he warned Taira Yoritsuna. He described this warning in the Senji-shō: “You will immediately face the calamities of revolt within your own domain and invasion by a foreign nation. Not only will the people of this country be beaten to death by foreign invaders, but many will also be taken prisoner.” This also came true just as predicted. As a result, the activities of Nichiren Shōnin and his disciples who accompanied him to Sado, were invigorated. Even on Sado Island, new believers and followers appeared.