thats what i thought but then i started thinking and he uses the rods to control pein because he is imobilized because of the rodsthose rods are to transmit chakra to the dead bodies he is using...
The rods are permanent if he wishes to control the dead bodies with his chakra. It's just like a computer, He is the Modem/Router and the dead bodies are labtops and other WiFi items, they function because of Nagato. Plus the rods are also a symbol that Nagato is linked or associated with Gedo Mazo, that statue that Akatsuki uses to seal away the Tailed Beasts, so it's like Nagato is with the statue unless he is killed, then I think the rods disappear or fall off. And if someone else is linked with the statue I think that they will get the rods as well.after he summoned that thing 20 years it shows him still with those rods in his back
Agreed.When he summoned the Gedo Mazo statue , he putted those rods in his back in over to control it . Later he figured that he can control the 6 paths of pain by using them , so he stayed that way in order to control them and bcoz he is stronger that way