Later that year, died, and Maro went with Prince Osakabe to deliver a gift from the Emperor to his house. When the "udaijin" died in 703, Maro was again the deliverer of gifts and condolences. In 704, Maro possessed the rank of , and was promoted to "udaijin". He was now the second highest-ranking official after the . Prince Osakabe, and the highest-ranking official outside of the imperial family. In 705, Osakabe was replaced as "chi-daijō-kanji" by Prince Hozumi. In 708, Maro was granted the rank of , along with Fujiwara no Fuhito. Two months later, Maro was promoted to the long-vacant position of "sadaijin", and Fuhito filled his vacancy as "udaijin". However, Fuhito is supposed to have been the real political power at this time. In 710, the capital was moved to Heijō-kyō, and Maro was put in charge of the old capital. Four months later, his servant offered to the Emperor an auspicious melon, and officials both civil and military reported to the Emperor their congratulations. In 715, Prince Hozumi died, leaving Maro as the highest-ranking retainer. On March 3, 717, Maro died at the age of 78. Empress Genshō lamented his loss deeply, sending Prince Nagaya and on a condolence call to his home and granting him the posthumous rank of . Condolences were presented by representatives of the "daijō-kan", nobles above the fifth rank, and nobles below the sixth rank. The Shoku Nihongi records that . Eight months later additional presents were made to him, of rough silk, thread, cotton, and cloth.