Board Thread:Boruto Discussions/@comment-26431570-20180601021041/@comment-25607614-20180601065411

I find it highly unlikely that Shikamaru is condoning doing serious damage to anyone. They've made it clear that the Chunin Exams are a cooperation between the villages to show their strength in a healthy way and foster growth in their genin via competition. Even Gaara's kid is about 1,000 times tamer than his foster dad, who literally murdered a team of rain-nin in his exam.

The context of the situation kind of leads one to believe that Naruto and Shikamaru are in a "proud dad" competition. If you recall how Naruto urged Boruto on by telling him not to lose to Shikadai, it would be easy to assume that whoever's kid wins gets bragging rights around the office.