Board Thread:Naruto Discussions/@comment-1251315-20160617225412/@comment-4646462-20160626000215

The Treasured Tools were conceptualized in a time where the Sage of the Six Paths was still a legendary figure and not much was known about him. Once he was made into an actual character, prior abilities such as the Six Paths and the Treasured Tools stopped making sense.

In actuality, the Tools were just cameos to go with Kinkaku and Ginkaku, all of which were from Journey to the West (as stated in the trivia for the Tools' page).