Ginkaku

was one of Kumogakure's Gold and Silver Brothers alongside Kinkaku, who were the most notorious criminals in the history of their village.

Background
During the First Raikage's reign, the Gold and Silver Brothers were part of a team that was assigned to capture the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, but the two were swallowed during the confrontation. However, they survived by eating the flesh of the beast, and thrashed inside the tailed beast's stomach for two weeks, eventually forcing the Nine-Tails to regurgitate them. Upon their escape, they both came out looking like miniature versions of the beast, due to having acquired a portion of the fox's chakra. During a peace treaty ceremony between Konohagakure's Second Hokage and Kumogakure's Second Raikage, the two brothers staged a coup d'état that left the Hokage on the brink of death. At some point, he met Kakuzu, and he was still alive during the time of Third Raikage.

Personality
Ginkaku believes that a shinobi of Kumogakure must be prepared to sacrifice their comrades if it means to accomplish a goal, and he praised Darui for attacking without concerning himself with the hostage he had taken. He also believes that words are potent weapons in battle, and is considered a disgrace to Kumogakure due to his indiscriminate underhanded nature and use of deceit, and betrayal indiscriminately in battle and will even attack their own comrades. Ginkaku cared deeply for his brother, whose name was his most said word. Before being sealed into the Benihisago, he pleaded for his brother to help him.

Appearance
Ginkaku, like his brother, was a relatively burly shinobi, albeit smaller than his sibling. He had light-coloured eyes with dark-coloured sclera, grey-toned skin (depicted as fair-coloured in the anime), as well as long, silver hair cover with prominent dark tips, arranged in a style reminiscent of a Native American headdress. These features are accentuated by the presence of two distinctive horns on his head as well as a light-coloured rectangular marking on his nose. He also had the same characteristic whisker-like marks on his face as Naruto Uzumaki.

His typical attire was comprised of a standard Kumogakure flak jacket that is black on the edges, worn over a purple, high-collared, sleeveless uniform, a purple forehead protector, and a pair of simple wrist-guards. The kanji for was tattooed on his right shoulder. Along with this, he typically carried a large gourd around his neck attached to a thick rope.

Abilities
Ginkaku and his brother are well known for their prowess during their lifetime, so much to make others tremble in fear at the sight of them decades after. The pair's reputation from acts such as leaving the Second Hokage on the brink of death, earned themselves the awareness of the Fourth Raikage, who considered the two such a threat even against several thousands shinobi. Being descendants of the Sage of Six Paths, it was believed this allowed them to survive eating Tailed Beast flesh. From doing this, he gained access to the Nine-Tails chakra, resulting in him being able to enter both version 1 and 2 forms.

Treasured Tools
The brothers wielded the five Treasured Tools of the Sage of Six Paths, all of which cost a large amount of chakra, enough to kill normal humans before they can utilise the tools properly. Due to the incredible feat of being able to wield the treasured because of their own strong chakra, the brothers were considered weapon specialist. By combining the Benihisago, Kōkinjō and Shichiseiken, they can capture their opponent's and body, sealing them away. The Bashōsen allows them to create any of the five basic elements. While using the Shichiseiken, Ginkaku displayed skill in kenjutsu, being able to momentarily clash with Darui, a specialist, as well as chop straight through a White Zetsu with ease, while using only one hand for both feats.

Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation
In preparation for the Fourth Shinobi World War, Ginkaku is reincarnated by Kabuto Yakushi to fight against the Allied Shinobi Forces. Emerging from the sea near the Land of Lightning's coast, alongside his brother and among the White Zetsu Army, the two engage the opposing First Division. Confronted by Darui, he remarks that it was pathetic that they of all people would be used in the Second Hokage's technique, considering they defeated him.

Irritated by Darui's insolent tone, he retrieves the Shichiseiken from Kinkaku and with the Benihisago underarm, begins to battle the former. Switching opponents, Ginkaku is able to sever and confine Samui and Atsui's word souls. After tossing the sword to his brother, Atsui is tricked into uttering his most said word, allowing Ginkaku to seal him away. He then takes Samui hostage and tries to make them surrender, but struck by a guided barrage, she manages to escape. Hailing them both as true Kumo-nin, Ginkaku seals Samui despite her silence, before cursing Darui in his confusion.

Praising Darui for discerning that the curse will activate even if he remains silent, Ginkaku reiterates that deceit and betrayal were ideal tactics for shinobi, but when called a disgrace, he becomes enraged at the delluded "pawn" of the Raikage. However, just as Ginkaku was about to seal him, Darui's most said word changes whilst being absorbed, allowing him to escape unbeknown to the brothers. Knocked into Kinkaku from behind, Ginkaku touches the Kōkinjō, before being cursed by Darui after he commandeers the other tools. Separated from one another, Ginkaku fearfully requests his brother's help, yet as was his most used word, he is instead sucked into the confines of the Benihisago.

By nightfall, Tobi arrived at the battlefield and took both the Benihisago and Kohaku no Jōhei, each containing one of the brothers inside, intending to use their Kurama chakra to help enact his Eye of the Moon Plan. During the fight between Tobi and Naruto, Tobi decided to move ahead with his plans and tossed the Benihisago with Ginkaku still inside the gourd into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

In Other Media
Ginkaku appears as a boss in Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3.

Video Games
In Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Online, his chakra nature is Lightning Release.

Trivia

 * literally means "Silver Horn".
 * Ginkaku's most frequently spoken word is his brother's name,.
 * Both Ginkaku and his brother are likely based on two characters from the Chinese classic "Journey to the West". In this story, Kinkaku and Ginkaku are two demon king brothers, known as the and the . The siblings possess five treasured tools; one of which, called the, had the ability to suck in their opponents, before melting them once they were trapped within. This item presumably served as the inspiration behind the distinctive gourd that Ginkaku is seen with in the Naruto series. Also, in the original tale, Ginkaku does meet the same end, where upon he calls for his brother's help before he is pulled inside the gourd.
 * When Ginkaku débuted in the anime, he was depicted without the plating on his nose seen in the manga.
 * Ginkaku and Kinkaku are also temples in Kyōto, Japan. The Temple of the Silver Pavilion is called Ginkaku and the Temple of the Gold Pavilion is called Kinkaku.
 * In Naruto: Shippūden episode 269, Ginkaku and his brother Kinkaku were both seen with whisker-like marks on their faces before they were even consumed by Kurama.

Quotes

 * (To Darui) "''Hey sometimes "speech is silver", right? A silver tongue can trick anyone! Right now your problem is dead silence."
 * (To Darui) "Words are just another tool people use to trick one another with lies. In the shinobi world, deceit and betrayal are fantastic battle strategies… Words are just another ninja tool."