They are basically two characters that the manga can do without. You can re-write the manga without Sakura, and it wouldn't change a thing.

Now if you exclude Sasuke from the manga, you can still have Itachi. I mean come on, how many of you guys out there actually thing that Sasuke's got a chance against Itachi? This way Oro would be in Kimimaro's bad ass body (literally) and Naruto will probably be the one to rid the world of Itachi. See, it wouldn't really hurt the storyline. Kishimoto's making this too drawn out.

There comes a point when every manga starts to lose its appeal. I hope Naruto ends before it gets to that point.