I echo the overwhelming sentiments against Sakura being 'reverted' to her pre-Shipuuden genin abilities. Imagine killing a missing-nin and a high-level criminal with only a kunai, and not even having the firm resolve to execute it, that is even if she is now to do it the second time? Ridiculous.
Sakura's superhuman strength, could have made her attack exponentially faster and deadlier. But we don't see any hint of this ability in the recent Sakura. Sad, indeed. But it is now very clear that she could not and would not kill Sasuke. She is broken within, so there is no superhuman strength that would come from within her. She is powerless now.
Sakura x Karin. Anyway, it is remarkable the 'tearful' connection that was made between Sakura and Karin. Though I don't know how Karin's statement that 'this Sasuke is not the Sasuke you know' would affect Team 7 in their decision to kill former teammate Sasuke. It is indeed expected now that Karin would turn against Sasuke, or more properly the Madara-influenced Sasuke for all that he has done and shown, esp. to her. And she will indeed be a precious resource for decoding Madara's plans and abilities; the same way they were able to decode Pain... and defeat him.
The source of Sasuke's unlimited chakra. Most important is that Karin seems to have an unlimited chakra reserve; she is the reason why Sasuke is still standing with not even a sign of going out of chakra, even after battling against five kages. Twice did Karin come to replenish fully Sasuke's chakra (and once before, after Sasuke almost died from Deidara's suicide blast). That is why Sasuke was even able to pull successive Susano'os.
Kill Bill Sasuke? But one obvious reason why Sasuke will survive this scenario, is that so far not one of the four other characters present has yet to make the firm resolve to kill Sasuke. Of course, they have to show that they actually can, esp. Kakashi, just to prove to Sasuke that he was flatly wrong. There indeed is a great difference between 'can' and 'will'. It is not that they couldn't kill him because they did not have the ability since Team 7 has actually killed before; or because Sasuke has an absolute defence for we know that the Susano'o isn't like that, more so now that he has eye failure. It is because they wouldn't kill him. Even if they can.
How about Naruto? Will Naruto kill Sasuke? I think he can and he will, eventually, as he would have ran out of choices. But as of this encounter, I still doubt it. Naruto was only able to do what his sensei did -- save and defend Sakura. And I don't see him reactivating his Sage Mode that sooner or that easily in this fight.
Kakashi put it upon himself to end Sasuke thereby absolving Sakura of the burden, as a sort of atonement for being a bad teacher, but so far, he has not even made any attacks. So Sasuke as of now remains basically unharmed, even in his sorry state of losing his eyesight. And I guess he will remain to be so. I guess Naruto, Kakashi, and Sakura can only have the resolve to kill Sasuke in the event of self-defense, or saving Konoha.
The maxim remains the same: Stop Sasuke at all costs but without necessarily killing him. Dialogue would be the first line of offense and defense. They would try to save Sasuke first.
But how can anybody save someone when that someone does not want to be saved?
Salvation can only come from within one's self.
Kakashi was right somehow to redirect Sasuke to a happy memory in his heart, but sadly, Sasuke missed the redeeming point (which makes me all the more suspect that Madara-black Zetsu did something really awful to his soul, blinding his proper judgment, the same way, they made the Third Mizukage do ruthless ninja practices in the Bloody Mist; and yeah, like how Shisui's sharingan was used to influence Mifune in favoring Danzo as the head of the alliance).
The image inside Sasuke's heart is that of laughing children -- and that was how Itachi wanted things to be. He wanted the next generation to be happy, even if he is not to share in or enjoy that happiness. That is, because he will have to be the one to sacrifice his own happiness, his own life, for them. And 'them' would include first and foremost, his own brother - Sasuke. Itachi saved not only Konoha, but also Sasuke.
Sadly, Sasuke is not seeing himself in that picture, which is Itachi's vision. So right now, Sasuke is entirely blaming Konoha for his brother's death. And to this, I would really love Kakashi giving him a no-holds barred rebuttal, "But you were the one who killed him remember?"
And then something to this effect, "You, Sasuke, are blind, both your eyes and your heart. If you don't see yourself, then neither would you see anything at all. And you wouldn't see Itachi for who he really is. It is due to your foolishness, to your blind thirst for revenge, that you lost your brother, and until recently, with what you were doing, that you will have lost your clan entirely. You are right, I cannot bring back Itachi nor your family; no one can. But if through Itachi, you have lost your family and your clan, then only through Itachi will you be able to revive them. You have to be one with Itachi, your brother, you have to know his secret: You, Sasuke, are his life. You are Itachi's hope, and the salvation of the Uchiha. So don't lose yourself, and don't throw Itachi away. He left you a gift and a task. And we... WE are here only to help you. Be sure of that."
So that's it, ladies and gentlemen: I am romance-less hopeful. And I do hope we'll see Itachi's gift to (and task for) Naruto soon. XD
