Six Paths Technique

The  (六道の術, Rikudō no Jutsu) is a Rinnegan technique used by those who possess the legendary eye power. With it, one is able to control the "Six Paths", six powerful techniques unique to the Rinnegan itself. The Six Paths technique can be used by a single user, like most techniques, or it can be divided up and given to reanimated corpses, as shown in both and 's incarnation of the technique.

Uses
Through the use of the Outer Path, the user is able to control six corpses as additional bodies and channel one of the first six of the aforementioned abilities into each, thus compensating for any physical limitations. However, while the strength and speed of the techniques are greater when used through the main body than when used through the corpses, and multiple Paths can also be activated simultaneously by the main body, there are advantages granted by the use of corpses. As the main body's vision is linked to the Rinnegan possessed by the corpses, the user is able to easily coordinate their movements and is given a form of protection, since the user can control the corpses from a distance, rather than putting their own body at risk.

Influences
Based upon the six Buddhist Paths of Reincarnation, each technique was named after one of the different "Paths": Deva, Asura, Human, Animal, Preta, and Naraka. Each of these Paths, or realms, represents one of the realms a being is reborn into after death, determined by the accumulated karma of their past lives. While the two lower Paths, Preta and Naraka, are hellish, and the two higher Paths, Deva and Asura, are heavenly, all six are considered to be Paths of suffering because they perpetuate the cycle of Reincarnation; the only way to break it and ascend to a higher state of existence is to attain enlightenment.