Following Nobunaga's death, in 1583, at Battle of Shizugatake, Nagachika at first sided with Shibata Katsuie. But after Maeda Toshiie switched sides to Hideyoshi’s, Nagachika followed in kind and withdrew without fighting, then gave his loyalty to Hideyoshi.
Thereafter in 1584, Nagachika served under the command of Hideyoshi in the Battle of Komaki-Nagakute.
Nagachika was also a tea master and an admirer of Sen no Rikyū. After Toyotomi Hideyoshi ordered Rikyū's death, Nagachika sheltered Rikyū's son, Sen Dōan.