The Naruto series has set a precedent of ocular supremacy with its overpowered visual techniques, and the Rinnegan is the embodiment of this fact. The Rinnegan’s strongest ability is an Outer Path technique, known as the Six Paths of Pain, allowing control over six bodies through chakra piercings that act as receivers. One of its abilities is the Animal Path, allowing the user to summon forth animals and beasts without any sort of summoning technique or contract.
The Animal Path is quite unique and unlike the other paths, as it primarily offers complete control over a large number of beasts without the need of a contract. This begs the question of where these animal-like beasts even come from, since they don’t resemble any of the mystic animals seen in the Naruto series before. It's also worth exploring whether these animals are actually alive considering they bear the Rinnegan and the same chakra-receiving piercings as the Six Paths of Pain.
Is the Animal Path Similar to the Summoning Technique?
It could be argued that the Rinnegan’s Animal Path summons animals that are similar to other mystic animals with summoning contracts. For that to be the case, however, these beasts would need to have an existing mystical land, similar to the toads at Mount Myoboku and the snakes at Ryuchi Cave. Moreover, the summoner first needs to enter into a blood contract with the animal for it to be summoned.
In the Animal Path’s case, none of these prerequisites are fulfilled, indicating that the summons are nothing like the animals from the summoning technique. Firstly, the summons are all of different species, something that isn’t the case with regular animal summonings. Secondly, the Animal Path’s summons don’t resemble the mystic animals at all, seeming more like beasts of some sorts.
The Animal Path's Summons Are Immortal
Another reason why the Animal Path’s summonings are nothing like the mystic animals is that these creatures are most certainly immortal. Animal summonings are mortal beings that have limited lifespans and can be killed prematurely as well, such as the toad that Danzo slayed during the Pain invasion arc. The Rinnegan’s summonings, on the other hand, seem to be immortal as they can be summoned again despite being killed.
The multi-headed hound and the chameleon were subdued by Jiraiya during his fight with the Animal path in the Hidden Rain Village. However, the very same beasts were summoned once more during Pain’s invasion of the Hidden Leaf, yet they were again defeated at the hands of Naruto and his toads. Despite being killed twice, the multi-headed hound can be witnessed again during the Fourth Great Ninja War, when reanimated Nagato fought against Naruto.
Any normal summoning animal would have ceased to exist after being slayed once, yet the constant reemergence of these beasts clearly indicates that their roots lie somewhere else entirely. Their Rinnegan eyes and chakra-receiving rods also point towards the fact that the animals are nothing like their summoning counterparts.
The Beasts Are Chakra Manifestations
The only plausible theory that explains these animals’ existence is that instead of summoning animals, the Animal Path creates beasts that are chakra manifestations, similar to the tailed beasts. It certainly makes sense considering the beasts have been revived almost three times, indicating that they are created out of chakra. Several aspects of these beasts point towards this fact, with their appearance being the most apparent one. The summons have the same chakra receivers as the Six Paths of Pain, and it's unlikely that Nagato implanted those rods in the beasts himself.
It's likely that the Animal Path’s ability to conjure such beasts is linked to the Sage of Six Paths’ Creation of All Things technique, the very same technique he used to split Ten-Tails into the tailed beasts. The Animal Path could very well possess the same ability, just on a much smaller scale. The Rinnegan can only be awakened if the chakra of Indra and Asura intermix, and since their chakra is linked to Hagoromo Otsutsuki, it makes perfect sense for the Rinnegan to possess a technique similar to the Creation of All Things Jutsu.
The explanation is highly plausible given the circumstances these beasts are summoned under, and based on their otherworldly appearance. Linking their existence to Hagomoro’s technique is an interesting call-back as it creates a hidden link between the Rinnegan and the Sage of Six Paths, denoting that the one who possesses these eyes is surely above all else. In any case, one aspect is apparent that these beasts are nothing like other summoning creatures, with their existence being tied solely to the Rinnegan’s power – making these beasts nothing more than chakra manifestations.