Unraveling the Mystery: The Six Paths of Pain in Naruto
Discover the overlooked vessels of the Six Paths technique used by Pain in Naruto Uncover the reasons behind why Deva Path, Human Path, Asura Path, Animal Path, Naraka Path, and Preta Path were chosen as vessels
The Six Paths of Pain is a formidable technique that left a lasting impact on the Naruto series. Its immense power posed a new threat to the shinobi world, unlike anything seen before. However, while the technique itself is widely recognized, the vessels used for its execution are often overlooked.
As Nagato's own body was severely damaged, he relied on multiple vessels to channel the Rinnegan's power. While only Yahiko's body was identifiable to fans, the other vessels were actually carefully selected by Nagato himself. Interestingly, each vessel had a connection to Jiraiya, which was a recurring pattern amongst them. Although these characters were minor, the series did briefly feature their encounters with Jiraiya, allowing for their identification.
Deva Path
The Deva Path is easily recognizable among fans as it was once inhabited by Yahiko, a highly popular character who was a student of Jiraiya and a close friend of Nagato. Yahiko's tragic death at the hands of Hanzo of the Salamander led to him becoming the first of the Six Paths of Pain. Many fans believe that the Deva Path is the strongest among the six, possibly due to the emotional connection Nagato had with Yahiko. Fans are well-versed in Yahiko's backstory, having been introduced to his character in the Hidden Rain Village.
Human Path
During his travels, Jiraiya encountered an unnamed shinobi from the Hidden Waterfall village who possessed the body that would later become the vessel for the Human Path. Sadly, the Hidden Waterfall shinobi perished during the Second Great Ninja War, and Nagato took possession of his body to utilize its power through chakra receivers.
Asura Path
When Nagato takes control of the Asura Path, its vessel undergoes a remarkable transformation that sets it apart from the other Paths. Originally a ninja puppeteer's body that caught Jiraiya's attention with its distinctive infant puppet, the Asura Path now boasts faces on all sides and two additional arms extending from each flank. This striking appearance could be a nod to the Asura Path's roots in mythology, where Asura are depicted as demon-like creatures with multiple limbs.
Animal Path
Nagato had to replace the original vessel of the Animal Path after it was defeated by Jiraiya. The first body belonged to a shinobi from the Fuma Clan with whom Jiraiya had a brief conflict during the Second Great Ninja War. However, when this vessel was also defeated, Nagato chose to use the body of Ajisai, a young Hidden Rain shinobi who was killed on a dangerous S rank mission. Notably, Ajisai was the only Six Paths vessel with no connection to Jiraiya.
Naraka Path
Preta Path
The Naraka Path possesses the unique ability to summon the King of Hell from the underworld, making it the most spiritually attuned of the Six Paths. However, its physical vessel is rather ironic, as it once belonged to a priest from an abandoned village that was destroyed by fire. Despite the tragedy, the priest remained devoted to the shrine, and it was there that he eventually encountered Jiraiya.
Nagato, who embodied the Preta Path, assumed the identity of a farmer after acquiring the body of a deceased Hidden Grass shinobi in his early life. However, his innate talent as a shinobi compelled him to participate in the Second Great Ninja War. During his stay in the Hidden Grass Village, Jiraiya encountered the young and promising shinobi.
Why Were These Specific Vessels Chosen?
Jiraiya's fight against the Pains revealed a surprising truth - each of the Pains had a familiar face, and Jiraiya soon realized that they were all people he had met during his travels. The series delves deeper into this revelation by showcasing Jiraiya's journey to find the child of prophecy, where he encountered many individuals who he believed could be the chosen one. What's interesting is that all of the Shinobi used as vessels by Nagato had one thing in common - Jiraiya had considered them all as potential candidates for the child of prophecy. While Nagato never explicitly explained his reasoning behind this, it's possible that he deliberately chose these individuals as a tribute to Jiraiya's efforts. After all, the child of prophecy was supposed to bring about a new era of peace in the Shinobi world - a responsibility that Nagato ultimately took upon himself.
