Sakata Gintoki, once feared as the "Shiroyasha" (White Yaksha) during the Joui War, bears distinctive silver hair and white attire, renowned for his formidable swordsmanship. His childhood spent scavenging battlefields earned him the grim moniker "Corpse-Eating Demon," until Yoshida Shouyou took him in as a mentor at Shoka Sonjuku academy, instilling the core value of protecting others.

The Kansei Purge saw Shouyou arrested, driving Gintoki and his comrades—Katsura Kotaro and Takasugi Shinsuke—into the Joui War to rescue him. In a pivotal moment, Gintoki fulfilled Shouyou's final request by executing him to save Katsura and Takasugi, an act that fractured his bond with Takasugi. Wandering alone after the war, he encountered tavern owner Otose at her husband's gravesite. After consuming the grave offerings, he vowed to protect Otose in exchange.

He founded the freelancing business "Yorozuya Gin-chan" in Kabukicho, later joined by Shimura Shinpachi and Kagura, forging a found family. His personality blends laziness, sarcasm, and chronic rent evasion with deep loyalty during crises. He wields the bokuto (wooden sword) "Lake Toya," symbolizing his rejection of lethal violence despite his combat skill.

During the Kabukicho Four Devas Arc, Gintoki became entangled in a power struggle among the district's overseers. Otose, one of the Four Devas, designated him as her successor due to his prior protection of her and the district. Though reluctant, he intervened when the balance fractured, confronting threats to Kabukicho's stability. His actions emphasized his commitment to preserving the district as a sanctuary for its marginalized residents, reflecting his ethos of defending found family and community.

His backstory as a war survivor and outsider informed his pragmatic approach, prioritizing resolutions over ideology. The arc concluded with a new generation of Four Devas, including Gintoki and Shimura Tae, tasked with maintaining Kabukicho's equilibrium.