In the Naruto epoch, there were many despicable villains that the would-be Hokage and his friends encountered. Whether it be the Konoha-nin or shinobi from other lands, their mission to create a better ninja world was often compromised by these figures. Some villains were more sympathetic, though. A prime example is Zabu and Haku, who became mercenaries just to survive harsh times.
Others were vicious tyrants. This included the terrorist cell known as the Akatsuki. Another example of straight-up evil was the unique team of Kinkaku and Ginkaku, aka the Gold and Silver Brothers. They weren't in the manga and anime for long, but they had a very devastating impact during the Fourth Shinobi World War.
Who Are Naruto's Kinkaku & Ginkaku?
The Gold and Silver Brothers Were Linked To a Legend
Kinkaku and Ginkaku are called the Gold and Silver Brothers due to the color of their hair. Kinkaku has gold hair, while Ginkaku has silver. But make no mistake, their long, flowing locks aside, they are deadly warriors. These villains came to the fore when Uchiha Obito and Madara hatched their plan for the Infinite Tsukuyomi, not realizing they were puppets of Kaguya. Kabuto became part of the scheme. He resurrected these warriors to assist. The story confirmed they were descendants of the Sage of the Six Paths.
Many years before, they tried to sow discord between Konoha and Kumogakure. They didn't want peace before the First Shinobi World War. They tried to steal Kurama, only to end up in the belly of the Nine Tails. The Demon Fox couldn't devour them, most likely due to their lineage. That's because the Sage was Kaguya's son and master of all the Tailed Beasts at one point. This allowed the brothers to stay in Kurama's stomach for two weeks, devouring some of its flesh and energy.
When the fox vomited them out, they became enhanced superhumans. They even fought and left the Second Hokage, Tobirama, near death. They had tremendous chakra reserves, akin to that of a jinchūriki, so Tobirama struggled to contain them. They would eventually go into hiding and die. However, the Third Raikage made sure their legend lived on. He wasn't a fan, however. He wanted everyone in Kumogakure to remember their dark history and how they bred sadistic killers such as those brothers.
Admittedly, with so much of the backstory unseen, the Naruto franchise has an opportunity to fully detail this past, whether it's via one-shot episodes, filler content, or manga spinoffs. This has been done with Minato, so the full history of these fan-favorite villains and how they first died can be elaborated on. Fans did take to the brothers a lot, due to their sass, confidence and how effective they were in the field. So, there is potential to mine in, at least, a spinoff manga.
What Were Ginkaku & Kinkaku's Weapons?
The Gold and Silver Brothers Caused Immense Carnage
A major part of why the brothers were so elite is due to their weapons, i.e. four out of the five revered "treasures" that belonged to the Sage. The first one was the Bashōsen -- a fan that allowed them to harness all five of the basic elemental chakra natures. The user just needed to think of the technique, and it was generated, from fire to wind, etc. This is a dream come true, as many ninjas would have to work hard for years to master everything. Only folks with a high chakra count could have used these weapons.
This fan was also used as a shield, as seen when Darui unleashed his lightning attacks. The brothers braced with the fan, countering with consummate ease. Kinkaku stored it in his mouth for ease of transport, which made him quite unpredictable, even as a zombie. Tenten would eventually get ahold of the fan and use it to destroy one of Kakuzu's masks during the war. However, she passed out due to exhaustion. It reminded fans she wasn't godlike or had godlike blood. The second weapon was the Kōkinjō.
This was a golden rope that could draw out someone's most used word from them. It worked in tandem with the other tools. The third weapon — the Shichiseiken — was a blade that could sever the connection between the user and the word. It was used in battle against other sword wielders, as seen when Kinkaku fought Darui. The main purpose of the blade was to store the enemy's word. If it changed, so would the inscription on the blade. It connected to the target's soul.
Once the person uttered the word, a homophone, or didn't say anything as time elapsed, they would be sucked into the fourth weapon: the Benihisago. This was a gourd that collected these mortal frames and their essences. Darui's allies — Samui and Atsui — fell prey to this. If the word changed during the suction, the absorption would stop, which happened to Darui when he was getting sucked in. While he avoided being trapped, he knew they needed an equalizer against these powerful foes. They were tough to combat on their own. But with these weapons, they were near unstoppable. It was like fighting angry, teenage versions of Naruto.
How Were The Gold and Silver Brothers Defeated?
Darui Stepped Up to Stop Kinkaku & Ginkaku
Darui showed his mental prowess, and why he was considered one of the best strategists around. He knocked Ginkaku into his brother, which resulted in Ginkaku touching the Kōkinjō and becoming cursed. Darui also stole and wielded the Shichiseiken to show how quickly he could improvize and set his own trap. Once Ginkaku uttered his most-used phrase, "help," he got sucked into the Benihisago. Kinkaku then unleashed his jinchūriki side, transforming into a primitive version of the Six Tails.
He hated being separated from his sibling, so he wanted to unleash hell. Fans saw a young Naruto do this whenever he got emotional. Thanks to the surrounding chakra, Kinkaku shielded himself from many attacks, including kunai bombardments and such. Knowing they had a mini-Kurama on their hands, Darui once more needed a Hail Mary play. He couldn't stand seeing the Six Tails unleash its attacks, destroying cliffs and many heroic soldiers. Not even Shikamaru's Shadow techniques could hold the villain.
Thankfully, Darui was able to get ahold of the only treasure that Kumogakure was able to steal from the brothers over the years. This was the fifth and final weapon the Sage had: the Kohaku no Jōhei. It was a large pot that sealed targets once they responded to being called. It was similar to the Benihisago, but required a less complex method of sucking the enemy in.
It was once used by the Third Raikage to capture the Eight Tails when it got loose. Kinkaku, in all his rage, got sucked in once Darui baited him in. It was a brutal brawl that cost many lives. But finally, the heroes had the brothers under lock and key. That said, they still served a sinister purpose.
What Happened To The Gold and Silver Brothers & The Treasures?
Tenten Played a Suprising Role vs. The Gold and Silver Brothers
Both vessels became tools that Obito used. He stole them in the dead of night, so he could harness Kurama's chakra. Naruto wasn't captured, so Obito tossed both vessels into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. This extra chakra helped turn the husk into the feared Ten Tails Beast. In time, Madara would betray Obito. Once Madara became the Ten Tails' jinchūriki, he spat out both the Kohaku no Jōhei and Benihisago from his body, deeming them useless. They fell on top of Might Guy and Rock Lee.
Like the fan, Tenten would seal them into her scrolls, hoping to use them against Madara. She never got the chance to do so, though. She fell into the Infinite Tsukuyomi. Once Madara fell and Kaguya was defeated, Tenten decided to keep four out of the five relics. The Shichiseiken apparently got lost in the war. Notably, it was said that folks — whether they were resurrected or alive — would have no way out.
But Darui eventually pulled his friends out using a mystical technique. Afterward, Tenten took them to her shop. These tools have been seen on display during the Boruto era. With the Hidden Leaf being so strong, it is in a relatively safe spot. Plus, seeing as Naruto and Sasuke reincarnated from the Sage's sons (Ashura and Indra, respectively), it does feel like this is the right spot to store them. This further speaks to the era of peace. The Raikage trusts Konoha again after they all fought on the same side. This is a token of appreciation and gratitude.
Kumogakure spent so many corrugated years dealing with those brothers who sullied their reputation. As a result, they wanted nothing more to do with them. Not even incarcerating the fiends. The brothers caused so much trouble, precipitated many fights between nations, and promulgated that dark philosophy about how shinobi were only meant to be weapons. They dehumanized the concept of a shinobi, so Kumogakure wanted to cut all ties.
Could The Gold and Silver Brothers' Legacy Be Revived in Boruto?
The Boruto Franchise Has Openings For the Villains
Now, the Boruto series has had many old heroes and villains appear in cameos. In terms of the Gold and Silver brothers, there are angles that could revive them. With Jūra and the Sentient God Trees open to devouring jinchūriki in Konoha, they could unseal Ginkaku and Kinkau for a meal. Secondly, Code could release them and use them as soldiers when his Claw Grime launches the next Konoha attack.
Eida gave Code insight into Konoha's defenses, so unsealing the brothers wouldn't be too far-fetched for such a brilliant tactician. Thirdly, the heroes, themselves, may opt to use the tools. This would bring the brothers back spirituality and speak to their legacy. Sure, Ginkaku and Kinkaku caused tremendous collateral damage and mass casualties. But they inadvertently allowed Tenten to have terrifying weapons. She could use them to help Kawaki against any of these villains.
At present, the Hidden Leaf is depleted. Sasuke is stuck in a God Tree; Naruto is imprisoned in Kawaki's secret dimension; while Boruto is a fugitive on the run. As the Sentient God Trees attack, not even Kawaki and the other senior shinobi can be considered to be on the level of these monsters. This would allow Tenten to step up, hurt the villains or seal them away. Seeing as she was under-used in the Naruto era, it would be a clever way of paying homage to the past, sating those who love nostalgia, and help evolve Tenten's purpose.
Having some of the other ninjas around using these weapons too can give them time in the limelight they couldn't get due to Naruto's busy story. Sai is one example. He stores weapons in his scroll, so he can wield a treasure easily on the go. Ino is another candidate. She actually used her mind transfer jutsu to help immobilize Kinkaku for Darui to seal, so she has a history with the tools. The point is, this would prove that good things can come from the more haunting elements cinched to the narrative.
Continuity would be maintained. And the Boruto era would illustrate that nothing from the past should be forgotten. Everything has a function and if new threats come knocking, Konoha should use all weapons at its disposal. No one expected Ginkaku and Kinkaku to be so powerful when they arrived, but they left an indent. Ultimately, the weapons they caused so much harm with should be redeemed. It is what the Sage would want, after all.
