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Takeshi Yamamoto is a fictional character in the Reborn! manga and anime series created by Akira Amano. Portrayed as one of the protagonist's first friends, Takeshi Yamamoto is introduced as a 14-year-old starting pitcher for his school's baseball team. After the protagonist Tsuna Sawada prevents him from committing suicide, he joins Tsuna's Vongola Mafia family. Apart from the manga and anime, Yamamoto has also appeared in other media from the Reborn! franchise including video games.<br />
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Yamamoto's character has been well-received by readers since his introduction, ranking as one of the most popular characters in every official Shonen Jump poll of the series. Publications for manga, anime and other media have commented on his character. Merchandise based on his appearance has also been released including key chains and action figures.<br />
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Rarely seen angry or without a smile, Yamamoto has a warm and friendly personality and stops any arguments that occurs between his comrades.He is popular among his classmates and loves to play baseball to the point of attempting suicide when he is unable to play.Because of baseball, Yamamoto holds his physical health in high regard and focuses on protecting his body in battle. However, as the series progresses, he decides not to focus on protecting his body so he can protect his friends using all of his strength. He hates to lose and is ridden with guilt and regret upon defeat.<br />
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Yamamoto remains calm during life-or-death struggles.In addition, he is a rapid learner and understands a situation better than anyone. This leads Reborn to claim he is a "born hitman". However, Yamamoto is oblivious to the fact that he and his friends are mafiosi, believing that they are playing a game and that Reborn's weapons are toys. He is also optimistic to the point of naïvetè; although many of the opponents he meets during the series attempt to kill him, Yamamoto searches for a way to defeat them without mortal injury, such as using the back of his blade or not dealing a killing blow, and attempts to save his opponents as they are about to die. Even after accepting his role as Tsuna's Rain Guardian and the Vongola's swordsman, he continues to balance his life between baseball and swordsmanship, only devoting himself to swordsmanship when he needs to protect his friends.<br />
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Due to his baseball training, Yamamoto possesses a strong body and the best reflexes of all the Vongola, giving him a natural advantage. He is able to dodge bullets shot at close-range and from a distance. Yamamoto originally uses a bat he receives from Reborn. When swung over 300 kilometres per hour (190 mph), the bat changes into a katana. After training under his father, Yamamoto receives "Shigure Kintoki" (時雨金時 Shower in Late Autumn, Golden Moment), a shinai that changes into a katana while using the "Shigure Soen Ryu" (時雨蒼燕流 Shigure Sōen Ryu, lit. "Shower in Late Autumn, Blue Swallow Style" wink . His training in the series' alternate future allows him to create an affinity between the Shigure Kintoki and his Rain Flame, something his adult self could not accomplish. Yamamoto then learns to fuse his swallow box weapon, called "Kojirō" (小次郎) or the "Rondine di Pioggia" (Italian: Swallow of the Rain), with the Shigure Kintoki. This, along with the three short swords his Akita Inu Vongola box weapon "Jirō" (次郎) carries on its back, creates the quadruple irregular blade "Asari Ugetsu" (朝利雨月). The three short swords can be used for aerial combat, ranged attacks, flying or propulsion. Kojirō is also capable of creating heavy rainfall.<br />
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Yamamoto utilizes the Shigure Soen Ryu he learned from his father. Because the style will be passed on to only the worthy students, the forms are taught once and the student is expected to memorize. The students are then able to create a form in addition to those they learned, signifying the student's true worthiness to succeed the style. Because of the nature of the Shigure Soen Ryu, weaker branches deteriorate and other branches disappear because there is no worthy successor. This leads Yamamoto to believe the style is flawless and invincible. Yamamoto was taught eight forms: four defensive and four offensive. He then creates another four: two offensive,one involving his Kojirō box weapon and one that combines all the forms. He also uses Squalo's attack "Attacco di Squalo" (Italian: Attack of the Shark), which causes a moment of paralysis after a strong sword swing. When combined with a Rain Flame's attribute of tranquility, the attack causes full body paralysis.<br />
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Shortly after his introduction, Yamamoto breaks his arm during baseball practice. Because he can no longer play baseball, he is driven to commit suicide. However, he is stopped by Tsuna. He is subsequently recruited into the Vongola Mafia family by Reborn, but he believes Reborn is playing a game. After Mukuro Rokudo and his subordinates begin attacking Namimori Middle School students, Yamamoto accompanies Tsuna to defeat Mukuro, but is defeated during a battle with Mukuro's stand-in Lancia.<br />
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Later, Yamamoto is defeated by the Varia Superbi Squalo who tries to steal the Vongola Rings. Yamamoto is then named the holder of the Rain Ring, signifying his role as Tsuna's Rain Guardian, and thus battles Squalo again in the Vongola Tournament. To avoid another defeat, he trains under his father and learns the Shigure Soen Ryu. He becomes the official successor of the style after defeating Squalo with a new form of his own.<br />
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After Tsuna and Hayato Gokudera are transported to the story's alternate future (nearly ten years later), they are taken to the Vongola's secret hideout by an adult Yamamoto. However, the adult Yamamoto is replaced by his younger self soon after. After he is defeated by Gamma, a commander of the rival Millefiore Mafia family, and is saved by an adult Kyoya Hibari, Yamamoto undergoes training with Reborn, after which he creates two new Sigure Soen Ryu forms and learns the secrets of the Arcobaleno. After Yamamoto is defeated by Genkishi during the attack on a Millefiore base, an older Squalo returns from Italy to train Yamamoto and convince him to devote himself to swordsmanship. He is chosen to be one of the combatants in the Choice game, easily defeating a disguised Genkishi and failing to defeat the target in time to win the game.After the Vongola escape from the Millefiore, they are attacked shortly after, and Squalo fights one of the Six Funeral Wreaths in order to give the Vongola enough time to flee. Yamamoto leaves the group to help Squalo, and he later rejoins the Vongola to assist them in the fight against the Funeral Wreaths.<br />
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After defeating Byakuran and returning to the past, the guardians are soon told of Tsuna's inheritance ceremony and are introduced to the Shimon family. Whilst initially getting along with Shimon member Kaoru Mizuno, he was greviously injured by Kaoru, who thought that Yamamoto had discovered the Shimon Family's secret<br />
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Reborn - the toon hero<br />
Sawada Tsunayoshi - Vongola Decimo Tsuna <br />
Hayato Gokudera - Taka Maush<br />
Takeshi Yamamoto - Guardian Takeshi <br />
Ryohei Sasagawa - Guardian Ryohei<br />
Kyoya Hibari - Ominous Nightmares<br />
Lambo - <br />
Mukuro Rokudo - Mukuro-kun <br />
Chrome Dokuro - Souless Chrome