[Boruto immediately panicked when he heard that and tried to argue. "Shikadai! I clearly..." Shikadai frantically signaled him with his eyes, silently mouthing, Idiot, apologize first! Do you want an even harsher punishment?!]
[Boruto understood what he was mouthing. Frustration lodged in his chest, and his face flushed crimson, but under Shino's calm gaze, he finally deflated like a punctured balloon. He lowered his head and muttered, "I'm sorry, Teacher Shino. Maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me."]
[Shino Aburame looked at Boruto, whose expression plainly said, "I did nothing wrong, but I have to admit it," then at Shikadai, who was trying to smooth things over, and the other bewildered students. He sighed.]
["Whatever the reason, you did disrupt the class. Boruto, stand at the back of the classroom for the rest of this lesson and clear your head."]
[Boruto clenched his fists, his face full of defiance, but under everyone's gaze, he could only pick up his textbook and drag his feet to the wall at the very back of the classroom.]
[He remained distracted throughout the lesson, his gaze constantly flicking toward Metal and the classroom door. His mind was filled with the sight of that black shadow twisting and writhing.]
[The moment the bell rang, Boruto rushed to Shikadai's desk. "Shikadai! I clearly..."]
["Boruto!" Shikadai cut him off, something he rarely did. His usual laziness had vanished, replaced by seriousness and concern. "Listen, you're really not acting normal right now."]
["I suggest you actually go to Aunt Ino's flower shop after school and talk to her."]
["Could that all-too-real Warring States Illusion back in Sunagakure have left you with some psychological aftereffects we don't know about?"]
["I..." Boruto opened his mouth, then looked around. His classmates gave him strange looks as they passed.]
[Even Mitsuki,