Nobutsura's character was brave and fearless. He once captured a robber getting into Tokiwa-den as a Takiguchi musha (滝口武者), the guard of Inner Palace. He was promoted to the director of the left part of center palace guard, Sahyoe-no-kami (左兵衛尉) as he was highly evaluated for capturing the robber. Nobutsura was captured although he fought tremendously. He did not even intend to tell where the prince was and never yielded to Taira no Munemori's cross-examination. Taira no Kiyomori admired his braveness and lessened Nobutsura's punishment to banishment to Hino District, Hōki Province.