I can't think of a logical end to this arc. All ends invalidate some main point. Sasuke going to Oro makes the Leaf/Sand mission pointless; Sasuke going back to Konoha makes all we know about Sasuke pointless. The only thing I can think of is Sasuke killing Orochimaru, Kabuto killing Orochimaru, or another unknown party being introduced which could extricate us from this story-predicament.

I'm very much hoping it's a new character.

Also, I ... *crosses fingers* ... feel Sakura becoming a better character soon.

-xtortout