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In [[1567]] Shibata led an army into [[Settsu province]] and defeated the allied forces of Miyoshi and Matsunaga near Sakai while Nobunaga secured his position in Kyoto. Three years later, Katsuie distinguished himself again at the siege of [[Chokoji castle]] in southern [[Omi province]]. Entrusted to guard the castle while Nobunaga was campaigning against the Asai and Asakura, Katsuie found himself besieged by 4,000 men under [[Rokkaku Yoshikata]]. Having only 400 men on hand, the garrison's situation seemed grim, and things were made only worse when the Rokkaku managed to cut their aqueduct. Knowing the Rokkaku planned to sit them out, Shibata launched raids into the Rokkaku lines with the object of keeping morale up and keeping the Rokkaku off-balance. Before too long, however, the Rokkaku discovered that the castle's water supply was very short and planned an all-out assault. That night, Katsuie gathered his men and to their amazement smashed the last pots of water remaining, declaring, "Sooner a quick death in battle than a slow death from thirst!"* Katsuie then led a desperate final charge that proved so ferocious the Rokkaku retreated.  

In [[1567]] Shibata led an army into [[Settsu province]] and defeated the allied forces of Miyoshi and Matsunaga near Sakai while Nobunaga secured his position in Kyoto. Three years later, Katsuie distinguished himself again at the siege of [[Chokoji castle]] in southern [[Omi province]]. Entrusted to guard the castle while Nobunaga was campaigning against the Asai and Asakura, Katsuie found himself besieged by 4,000 men under [[Rokkaku Yoshikata]]. Having only 400 men on hand, the garrison's situation seemed grim, and things were made only worse when the Rokkaku managed to cut their aqueduct. Knowing the Rokkaku planned to sit them out, Shibata launched raids into the Rokkaku lines with the object of keeping morale up and keeping the Rokkaku off-balance. Before too long, however, the Rokkaku discovered that the castle's water supply was very short and planned an all-out assault. That night, Katsuie gathered his men and to their amazement smashed the last pots of water remaining, declaring, "Sooner a quick death in battle than a slow death from thirst!"* Katsuie then led a desperate final charge that proved so ferocious the Rokkaku retreated.  

Following the defeat of both [[Asai Nagamasa]] and [[Asakura Yoshikage]] in [[1573]], Shibata was given the latter's province of [[Echizen Province|Echizen]] and took up residence at [[Kita-no-sho castle]]. Katsuie was also eventually given Asai's widow, [[Oichi]]-Nobunaga's sister, and Nagamasa's three daughters. Actually, it would be more accurate to say that Nobunaga's sister was given back to Katsuie, for the two had once been married. Sometime around [[1563]], for political expediency, Nobunaga had required Shibata to divorce the woman and then sent her off to Asai Nagamasa.  

Following the defeat of both [[Asai Nagamasa]] and [[Asakura Yoshikage]] in [[1573]], Shibata was given the latter's province of [[Echizen province|Echizen]] and took up residence at [[Kita-no-sho castle]]. Katsuie was also eventually given Asai's widow, [[Oichi]]-Nobunaga's sister, and Nagamasa's three daughters. Actually, it would be more accurate to say that Nobunaga's sister was given back to Katsuie, for the two had once been married. Sometime around [[1563]], for political expediency, Nobunaga had required Shibata to divorce the woman and then sent her off to Asai Nagamasa.  

Shibata's first years in his new province would be occupied quelling local Honganji adherents, although it appears that he took some time off to assist Nobunaga at [[Battle of Nagashino|Nagashino]] in [[1575]]. After [[1576]], and with the help of [[Maeda Toshiie]] and [[Sassa Narimasa]], Katsuie pushed further north and into [[Kaga province]], a campaign short in glory but long in difficulty. Theoretically part of Shibata's fief since 1573, Kaga was in fact under the sway of the Ikko-Ikki, and required strenuous effort to be brought to bear, particularly since after [[1577]] the Uesugi of [[Echigo province|Echigo]] were openly hostile to the Oda. Shibata was present for the [[Battle of Tedorigawa]] that year, in which [[Uesugi Kenshin]] defeated [[Oda Nobunaga]] and pushed Uesugi influence well into Kaga. Fortune shined on the Oda however, for in [[1578]] Kenshin died, plunging the Uesugi house into virtual civil war. When [[Uesugi Kagekatsu]] finally emerged the new daimyo, Shibata had spearheaded an Oda advance all the way into [[Etchu province|Etchu]]. In [[1581]] Maeda Toshiie was sent to rule [[Noto province|Noto]] and Sassa received Etchu. It is of some note and rather interesting that Shibata was never transferred from Echizen after 1573, the only major Oda retainer not to be shuffled around from province to province. It may well be that Nobunaga considered him the best man to guard the dangerous northern front against the Uesugi. Despite later events, there is no reason to believe that Shibata was overly ambitious, and a solid, loyal man was just what Echizen required.  

Shibata's first years in his new province would be occupied quelling local Honganji adherents, although it appears that he took some time off to assist Nobunaga at [[Battle of Nagashino|Nagashino]] in [[1575]]. After [[1576]], and with the help of [[Maeda Toshiie]] and [[Sassa Narimasa]], Katsuie pushed further north and into [[Kaga province]], a campaign short in glory but long in difficulty. Theoretically part of Shibata's fief since 1573, Kaga was in fact under the sway of the Ikko-Ikki, and required strenuous effort to be brought to bear, particularly since after [[1577]] the Uesugi of [[Echigo province|Echigo]] were openly hostile to the Oda. Shibata was present for the [[Battle of Tedorigawa]] that year, in which [[Uesugi Kenshin]] defeated [[Oda Nobunaga]] and pushed Uesugi influence well into Kaga. Fortune shined on the Oda however, for in [[1578]] Kenshin died, plunging the Uesugi house into virtual civil war. When [[Uesugi Kagekatsu]] finally emerged the new daimyo, Shibata had spearheaded an Oda advance all the way into [[Etchu province|Etchu]]. In [[1581]] Maeda Toshiie was sent to rule [[Noto province|Noto]] and Sassa received Etchu. It is of some note and rather interesting that Shibata was never transferred from Echizen after 1573, the only major Oda retainer not to be shuffled around from province to province. It may well be that Nobunaga considered him the best man to guard the dangerous northern front against the Uesugi. Despite later events, there is no reason to believe that Shibata was overly ambitious, and a solid, loyal man was just what Echizen required.