Sasuke should have been humiliated against gaara just like lee. i get that he trained to mimic lee's movements but Sasuke being able to actually pressure gaara more than lee in his gates before 5th, with NO SHARINGAN just makes lee feel weaker. it also makes gaara seem more terrifying, i'd also want to see Sakura actually help naruto during the fight, maybe showing Sakura's resolve to finally get stronger after only tying with ino while Naruto and sasuke advanced.
Also Sasuke sucks in the second half of shippuden, going all murder hungry for no reason