Eldest son of Wada Yoshimori, who served as the founding head of the Samurai-dokoro (Board of Retainers) and commanded the shogunate's military forces. Tsunemori grew up under his father's wing, joining him on campaigns. After Yoritomo's death, friction between the Wada and the rising Hojo Yoshitoki intensified. In 1213, when Yoshimori's nephew Tonenaga was exiled for alleged complicity in a plot and Yoshimori's plea for clemency was humiliatingly rejected, the conflict became irreconcilable. When Yoshimori raised his banner, Tsunemori followed without hesitation. In the Wada War (1213), he fought fiercely through the streets of Kamakura, at one point pressing close to the shogunal residence. But Hojo reinforcements continued to arrive, and outnumbered, he fell fighting alongside his father. The Wada clan was annihilated, and Hojo Yoshitoki personally assumed the Samurai-dokoro headship, consolidating military control.