Those Who Take Him Further

Yamamoto Takeshi is known for his natural talent and instincts when it comes to wielding a sword. He is able to learn techniques he sees quickly and will work tirelessly to become more proficient. Despite all of his skills he is unable to advance so quickly on his own. Yamamoto learns from several mentors throughout the series, each of which helps him improve in different ways.

Reborn acts as Yamamoto's first, albeit informal mentor. Reborn is officially Tsuna's home tutor but part of preparing Tsuna to take over the Vongola is making sure Tsuna surrounds himself with loyal guardians who are capable of helping Tsuna. When Reborn identifies Yamamoto as a potential guardian he switches out Yamamoto's regular baseball bat for a bat that transforms into a sword and even has the Callavone Family shoot at Yamamoto to force him to use his techniques. Reborn doesn't train Yamamoto directly very often but during the future arc he makes sure to kick him into shape with physical fitness so he would be prepared for more specialized training.

"What I will teach you has thrown many people into darkness during the time of war. It's a sword for murder." - Yamamoto Tsuyoshi, Ch. 87

Yamamoto's second mentor is his father, a retired swordsman. After losing to Squalo he goes to his father and asks his father to teach him kendo. His father takes it a step further and teaches him the Shigure Souen Style. The Shigure Souen Style is meant to be used in battle. His father even gives Yamamoto a new sword, Shigure Kintoki, a sword that looks like a bamboo practice blade until it transforms into a katana when used with the Shigure Souen Style. In addition to teaching Yamamoto he also provides him with confidence that his blade can overcome even Squalo, a master who defeated one hundred other swordsmen, including a practioner of Shigue Souen to become The Sword Emperor.

"The piece of trash has always had what it takes to become a master swordsman." - Superbia Squalo, Ch. 246

Yamamoto's final mentor is perhaps the most impactful. Squalo was the first person to defeat Yamamoto in battle and while Yamamoto was able to defeat Squalo using the element of surprise he still had a lot to learn. Squalo was impressed by Yamamoto's natural ability to gain competency in swordsmanship in such a such period of time and following the Varia battle forcing Yamamoto to reach his full potential became something of a hobby. When Yamamoto and the others end up in the future, Reborn initially shows Yamamoto the videos Squalo sent Yamamoto's future self of the battles that made him Sword Emperor. Squalo sent these to the older Yamamoto in order to convince him to give up baseball rather than reaching for the major leagues.

Once Squalo realizes that the younger Yamamoto ended up in the future he makes his way to Japan to train Yamamoto himself. Dino even remarks that Squalo would kill him if he taught Yamamoto anything useless, and refuses to offer him advice or training when he offers it to Tsuna and his other guardians. When Squalo finally arrives he punches Yamamoto hard enough to knock him unconcious and even to lose a tooth. When Tsuna and Gokudera try to object to Squalo's rough treatment Dino forces them to let him go because he believes Squalo can understand Yamamoto in a way they can't.

"I know you have the talent to handle both at once but the blade isn't something you "handle"... it's something you stake everything on!!" - Superbia Squalo, Ch. 246

Squalo doesn't sugarcoat anything for Yamamoto and his tough no nonsense attitude forces Yamamoto to make a commitment to the sword even if it means giving up baseball. Yamamoto agrres because he doesn't want to fail his friends again. Granted, he makes that promise conditional and only plans to keep it for as long as they were in the future. By forcing Yamamoto to make this choice he is able to help Yamamoto grow exponentially in a short period of time because all of his energy is focused on devoting himself to improving his swordsmanship. While training Yamamoto and Squalo form a bond that lasts even when Yamamoto returns to the past. When Chrome creates an illusionary version of Yamamoto to hide the fact that he's in the hospital during the Inheritance Ceremony, Squalo sees right through it and confronts Tsuna out of concern for his student and rival. Squalo is invested in Yamamoto's training and whenever he sees he will checks in on him to yell at him about training harder. Yamamoto always laughs it off but it is clear they have a close bond even if it's not conventional.