Board Thread:Naruto Discussions/@comment-4008620-20190902190023/@comment-9782468-20190903200913

It accomplished something. It shook Naruto. The genius who he had been able to change, and who he'd befriended, was killed protecting him.

It brought the loss closer to home for Naruto. Granted, Neji was sidelined during Part 2 so the effect wasn't as profound, which is why I suggested Gaara.

Like I said, having Naruto or Sasuke die before they finally clashed for the final time would have been anticlimactic.

Also, having Sasuke die when Naruto would get zero closure for the last like 3 years of his life would be dumb.

Kakashi already had a sort of death against Pain. If he died in this fight it would feel contrived.

Kakashi was more than ready to kill Sasuke, which is more than Hiruzen could say regarding Orochimaru. Kakashi (with the agreement of the other Kage) decided to be lenient considering

Literally everyone in the entire world would be dead if Sasuke didn't finally change and save the world with Naruto.