Taira no Sukemori, grandson of Taira clan leader Kiyomori and second son of Kiyomori's heir Shigemori, belongs to the Taira leadership's main lineage.

His early portrayal highlights an incident where, returning hastily from hunting, he fails to dismount his horse upon encountering an imperial procession led by Regent Fujiwara no Motofusa. This breach of court etiquette results in Sukemori being forcibly pulled from his horse and physically disciplined by Motofusa's attendants, revealing his youthful impulsivity.

Enraged by his grandson's humiliation, Kiyomori orders a retaliatory attack on Motofusa's retinue. Kiyomori's warriors ambush the procession, cutting off the topknots of Motofusa's guards as an act of shaming. This retaliation is framed within the narrative as escalating political tensions and damaging the Taira clan's reputation.

Contrasting Kiyomori's aggression, Sukemori's father Shigemori pursues conciliation. To mitigate diplomatic fallout, Shigemori exiles Sukemori to Ise as an apology and dismisses the warriors involved in the attack. This discipline underscores Shigemori's moderating influence and highlights the generational conflict over Taira leadership strategies between father and son.

Sukemori's presence in the narrative diminishes after his exile. While other Taira figures feature prominently in events leading to the clan's downfall during the Genpei War, his specific actions or ultimate fate during this period remain undocumented.