Conflicts and Resolutions

During every arc Tsuna and his friends face a new foe. Each foe also has a group of friends to back him up. In this manner Yamamoto always ends up having at least one major battle during each arc. Yamamoto usually wins his battles however these fights aren't without sacrifice. Several times Yamamoto has taken severe damage to his body and one time his injuries even brought him close to death. Despite these close calls, every battle also strengthens Yamamoto's resolve and improves his skill. Through these battles Yamamoto also met one of his most important mentors.

The Kokuyo Arc

The first major antagonists faced by Tsuna and his friends, are Rokudo Mukuro and his gang who have been using the nearby school Kokuyo as their hideout. One of Mukuro's closest "friends" is Joshima Ken who serves as Yamamoto's opponent during this arc. Ken and the rest of Mukuro's gang were children used as human experiments made by the Estraneo Family in an effort to regain their former power as a mafia family. Ken's abilities are the result of implantations into his upper jaw. When Ken puts in "dentures" that are designed to be replicas of animal teeth he partially transforms into that type of animal. He gains abilities such as speed and strength from those animals. This system has often been described as a "cartridge" system reminiscent of older video game systems where each cartridge held a different game.

These abilities make Ken a deadly foe that relies on his primal instincts. Ken's strong teeth easily break Yamamoto's transforming bat which leaves Yamamoto nearly helpless. Yamamoto struggles to defend his body from Ken's sharp teeth. Yamamoto needs to protect his body so that he can participate in an upcoming baseball tournament. Things look bad for Yamamoto until Tsuna clumsily falls into a pit. Yamamoto feels an overwhelming desire to protect his friend. This relates back to Chapter 5, when Tsuna saved Yamamoto. At that point Yamamoto realized his friends were more important than baseball. Yamamoto sacrifices his arm to Ken's wrath in order to get close to him. Yamamoto then bashes in Ken's head with the hilt of the transforming bat, knocking him out.

The Varia Arc

Shortly after the fight between the Kokuyo Gang and Tsuna's group, the team is confronted with a new challenge. Tsuna and friends are faced with a challenge from The Varia, the Vongola Family’s elite assassination squad. Its members are described as a team of the most morally corrupt killers who have united under their boss Xanxus. Xanxus is the adopted son of Vongola the Ninth and he feels that he should be the rightful heir to the family. The two groups face off in a series of one on one battles to determine which of their leaders has the right to be Vongola the Tenth.

Yamamoto faces off against the "Sword Emperor" Superbia Squalo; a man who mastered over one hundred different sword styles and techniques before being offered the position of Varia Leader. He turned the offer down so he could serve under the only man he considered his better, Xanxus. The fact that Squalo was even considered for the position speaks to his skill. Squalo and Yamamoto face off in a pre-battle match and Yamamoto loses and his informed that he has no idea how to use a sword. This leads Yamamoto to train under his father and learn the Shigure Souen Style.

When Yamamoto and Squalo face off a second time Yamamoto is better prepared. He knows how to use his sword properly and his natural talent keeps him alive despite his inexperience compared to Squalo. Even with Yamamoto's training under his father to learn the Shigure Souen Stytle; Squalo's own skill combined with the knowledge of over hundred techniques, including the Shigure Souen style put Yamamoto at a distinct disadvantage. Luckily, the Shigure Souen Style has different variations based on the master who teaches it. When Squalo gets overconfident because of the knowledge he gained from a different Shigure Souen Master, Yamamoto uses the element of surprise and attacks with a technique Squalo has never seen in order to bring him down. Yamamoto wins and his ingenuity and talent impresses Squalo. In response, Squalo later becomes Yamamoto's mentor in order to make sure the boy he lost to becomes a respectable swordsman worthy of that victory.

The Ten Years Later Arc

The Ten Years Later Arc pits the Vongola against the up and coming Millefiore Family. The Millefiore are the combination of the Gesso and Giglio Nero families. When put together they pose a giant threat Tsuna and his friends as their goal is to obliterate the Vongola and claim their rings as part of a larger plan to control the world. One member of the Millefiore is Genkishi, who uses illusions to manipulate his opponets. Despite his origins within the Giglio Nero has dedicated his life to serving the boss of the Millefiore, the leader of the Gesso Family, Byakuran after Byakuran saved him from death. Genkishi is manipulative and his strength is recognized by Squalo who gives Yamamoto a single warning before fighting him for the first time.

"When you aim for the top, you will sometimes face an opponent who will frighten you to the core of your being. To think you're afraid is not a bad thing. Rather, it's an essential ability that lets you sense your life is in danger. It would be wise to choose not to fight such an opponent. But, as a swordsman there are also fights you cannot avoid. When such a time comes do you know what you have to do? YOU HAVE TO WIN! WHATEVER IT TAKES YOU HAVE TO WIN! There's nothing to gain in defeat. Only victory has its rewards, wasn't it the same for that ring?" - Superbia Squalo, Ch. 199

When Genkishi and Yamamoto initally face off at the Melone Base Genkishi is confident in his ability to beat Yamamoto. He fills their arena with artificial rain, Yamamoto's element in order to give the younger swordsman an advantage. Additionally, he starts by fighting Yamamoto using only his fists, telling Yamamoto that he doesn't need his sword to defeat him. He quickly changes his mind, however, when Yamamoto shows him his skills. Fighting against Genkishi also allows him to hone his skill against the illusionary power of mist flames. Yamamoto is able to fight by recognizing the illusions as they approach however he is still at a disadvantage because he can't track the "real" Genkishi while facing the illusions. Yamamoto is taken down after an long battle against Genkishi. While the loss hurts Yamamoto's pride, he has nothing to be ashamed of. After his baatle it takes the future and the current Hibari as well as Tsuna to fight Genkishi before he falls. Even then Genkishi doesn't die truly die and instead Yamamoto faces him a second time during the choice battle.

After losing to Genkishi, Yamamoto is briefly trained by Reborn himself in order to prepare him for the upcoming battles. While Reborn's tough methods boost Yamamoto's physical strength and stamina, the assassin can't help Yamamoto improve his swordsmanship beyond providing him with the videos Squalo sent the older Yamamoto of his one hundred battles to become sword emperor. Luckily, Squalo himself arrives and trains Yamamoto. More importantly he gives Yamamoto a choice. He explains that Yamamoto will be held back as long as he refuses to dedicate himself 100% to swordsmanship or 100% to baseball. Yamamoto chooses the sword and his commitment allows his skill to grow exponentially in a short period of time. Additionally, during the Choice Battle Yamamoto has the advantage of his Vongola box. It contains the four irregular swords used by the First Vongola Rain Guardian, Asari Ugetsu. Although the Vongola box provides Yamamoto with a huge increase in power he is only able to use it properly because of the training. With his new skills and dedication, Yamamoto is able to defeat Genkishi by seeing through his illusions and making use of multiple swords.

The Inheritance Ceremony Arc

During the Inheritance/Shimon Arc, Yamamoto is injured because he accidentally discovers the Shimon's true reason for attending the Inheritance Ceremony is to destroy the Vongola. He is blindsided by Kaoru's attack and is critially injured to the point where he might not walk again. Before passing out he was able to write the characters that would make up the Italian word "delitto" or sin which gives Tsuna and the others a warning of why the Vongola will be under attack.

Yamamoto is not there for the first few Shimon battles but he appears suddenly to save Kaoru from being killed by Daemon Spade, the first mist guardian and mastermind behind the war between the Vongola and Shimon. Yamamoto reveals he was healed by the Byakuran of the present time and that he received his new Vongola Gear, which took the form of a necklace. Yamamoto proceeds to release his Cambio Forma, a two sword style. Takeshi is able to dodge the first of Daemon's attacks but Kaoru takes the hit instead. Yamamoto continued to trade blows with Daemon and even manages to give Chrome the ore that will turn into her new Vongola Gear during the battle. In the end Yamamoto falls to his knees while Daemon retreats.

This marks the last major battle that Yamamoto takes alone. The final battle against Daemon is a fight between most of the team with Tsuna and Enma taking the lead. Yamamoto and the other guardians get trapped in the illusionary world created by Daemon but are able to use their time to find Chrome and save her from becoming trapped.

Curse of the Rainbow Arc

The final arc has each of the Arcobaleno, the seven strongest infants in the world select representatives to fight for them. Reborn chooses his students Tsuna and Dino and most of Tsuna's inner family, including Yamamoto join Reborn's team as well. Throughout the arc battles are team situations unlike the solo battles of the previous arcs.

The first day finds Tsuna's team at school when the battle starts. Gokudera, Yamamoto, and Ryohei are separated from Tsuna and while trying to find them encounter Fon and Hibari, signalling that Hibari has become a representative for Fon's team. While Ryohei is taken out after chargong at Hibari directly Yamamoto and Gokudera attack at once using a smoke bomb to get past him.

On the second day, Team Reborn ends up fighting against Verde's team alongside Yuni's team when Colonello and his team interfere. Yamamoto and Gokudera are unharmed but they are also unsuccessful in their attempt to track down and battle Mukuro and Fran from Verde's team.

On the third day Yamamoto, along with Tsuna, Reborn, and Gokudera end up fighting alongside Mukuro's team against the Vindice. They are easily defeated by Jacque, one of the strongest members of the Vendice. Fortunately their wounds aren't bad and they are able to recover after a quick trip to the hospital.

During the final day of the battle of the Rainbow Arc against the Vindice members, Yamamoto, Gokudera, Chrome, and Flan team up to take a pair of members named Big Pino and Small Gia. Gokudera and Yamamotot take a frontal assult while Chrome and Flan provide backup in the form of illusions. The pair is able to destroy the weapons but when things look bleak Tsuna, Enma, and Basil come to defend them. Even with the combined might they are only able to win by fighting strategically. Yamamoto and Gokudera hold Pino and Gia in place and blow themselves up using Gokudera's dynamite while Chrome and Flan used their illusions to protect Yamamoto and Gokudera from harm.