"Tetsuya, just what did you give Tobirama Senju? These past few months, that inherently evil bastard has seemed possessed. He's been muttering to himself every day."
Izuna sought Tetsuya out and immediately started complaining about Tobirama Senju.
"The most infuriating part is that he's barely bothering with his work at the Ninja Academy anymore. I'm doing all of it now. He won't even do the work you assigned him.
Just what did you give him to get him so obsessed?"
"Haha, nothing much. Just some books."
"Books?"
Izuna frowned, unable to understand what sort of books could possibly drive that inherently evil bastard into such an obsession.
"All right, enough about that. Izuna, how are your eyes coming along? Don't tell me there's still no change. Mine have already upgraded to the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan."
At Tetsuya's question, Izuna looked even more dejected.
"Don't even mention it. I'm puzzled too. I have no idea what's going on. I clearly feel like I've accumulated enough power, so evolving my Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan into the Rinnegan shouldn't be a problem. But it still feels like something's missing, like I need some kind of trigger."
"A trigger?"
Tetsuya scratched his head.
"Could it be that you don't have enough Hashirama cells? Want me to give you another injection?"
"No, I don't think that's it."
Izuna shook his head.
"Maybe the time just hasn't come yet."
"Fair enough. It's not like we're short on time."
Tetsuya shrugged indifferently.
Naruto and the others were still young. There was a long way to go before the real show began.
Hearing Tetsuya's reassurance, Izuna laughed too.
"Haha, I'm just worried your eyes will have evolved into the Rinnegan by then, while mine are still the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan."
"Don't worry. I can guarantee that won't happen."
"Why?"