It doesn't really matter who Sasuke was thanking. 
Even if it's Sakura, I don't see any problem with that. This doesn't make SasuSaku canon at all, really.
We all know Sasuke's feelings for Team 7, and we know how important Sakura and Naruto are in his heart.
So, showing a panel where he's thanking or saving Sakura isn't weird, especially when we know that after his meeting with Itachi and the Hokage's, hate isn't his problem anymore, it's his point of view on how a village must be that is the problem.
When Sasuke's arc will begin, Kishi will developp NS, and SK on the other side.
We know that Taka will support Sasuke's point of view, even if he's wrong, they will believe in him like Sakura and the others believe in Naruto.
Kabuto is a good exemple, even if he has been talked no jutsu, he doesn't take Naruto's side. He follows Sasuke.
We don't know the details yet, and we will probably have a big discussion between Sasuke and Taka, but it's obvious that Kabuto believes that Sasuke could make a better world and a better village.
That's why he believes that his place is at Konoha's orphenage.
Kabuto wants to "walk with him" like Hinata and Shikamaru like to say.
Each Taka member will probably do the same after they will give their reasons.
And that's where it becomes interesting for SasuKarin.
I see big develloppement waiting for Sasuke and Taka. Kanae already explained SasuKarin's developpement, so I don't need to say what we will expect, we all know.
The fact that she's his favorite.
The fact that he knows her pretty good.
The fact that Kabuto and Suigetsu see them together in the futur.
The fact that she did something to him in the past (wich leave good material for futur developpement)
The fact that Sasuke cares about her.
The fact Kishi made her as a Uzumaki female (union between Uzumaki x Uchiha is a great message)
All that stuff will be explained in final vilain's arc (Sasuke's arc).
Hope Kaguya will be defeated soon.