I agree that what he feels for Sakura is nothing compared to what he feels for Naruto, Karin and most of all Itachi. But I was not trying to compare his bond with Sakura to his bond with others.
I'm not saying he could've fallen in love with Sakura then either, because SS doesn't necessarily mean romantic to me. Maybe I should've been more clear about that, but I meant that that was the time their bond was strongest, because his bond with team 7 was strongest then, in my opinion. He had opened up to them, but not yet fallen to the darkness completely. Sasuke cared for Sakura, but as a part of team 7. He never highlighted her like he did Naruto.
I got what you were trying to say, I just think that my own response wasn't clear enough in turn 
I think the height of Sakura and Sasuke's bond was from the beginning of the chuunin exams (where he complimented her genjutsu) to right up until the end of the second exam (where Sasuke held Sakura's hand and leaned against her in pain, and then beat up the Sound trio after asking her hurt her, etc.). I think this because in these moments, it was just Sasuke and Sakura, rather than being about Team 7, and the only two purely positive interactions these two have had. Sasuke thanked Sakura individually during the confession, but there was just so much negativity in what Sakura was saying (You never talk to me, you've always hated me, etc.) and Sasuke was thinking a lot about Team 7.
After the Forest of Death exam ended, that's when Sasuke started getting really kitteny with Sakura - telling her to shut up and mind her own business and smaking apples out of her hand and stuff.
Though I can see why you think the fight with Gaara would be the height, I think that is just the height of his bond with Team 7 overall.
The point is that Sasuke is made for a person who wants a family as a whole while Naruto is made for a person who wants a family with a different individual take such as one for brother, one for love, etc. Sasuke always put Team 7 and Taka as a whole while having one to stand out the most (Naruto and maybe Karin???). That's how his character is written. The soon to be translated chapter proves that even though Kishi shown likeness in Sasuke, he's highly focus on Naruto in everything. I mean a birthday after the war is just a way of having the ending a great moment for him.
Yep, those Uzumakis always getting under Sasuke's skin 
In all honesty, what I feel would be most important to Sasuke in any future relationship he may have is that the other person can understand the pain that he's been through, at least to an significant extent. Karin, for instance, is also the lone survivor of a tragedy, and also stayed with Orochimaru in a darker place emotionally, and Naruto also experienced loneliness in never having parents or loved ones at all in his youth, has experienced loss through Jiraiya and Neji, and has experienced a desire for revenge. Neither are exactly what he has been through, but their experiences allow them to connect to Sasuke easier than others can.
Speaking of which, when do you guys think the next moment will arrive? I'll place my bet on 650. :3
I bet on whatever chapter comes the day before Naruto's birthday (which should be 650 if there are no more breaks in between now and then) or the last chapter of the year before it goes on break (which should be 660).
Either way, since there is a good chance Naruto's birthday (in manga time) and the end of the war will be on the same day, the chances for a significant NaruSaku moment just that much higher, imo.
