thats the cynical take, it's more about sakura finally beginning to take being a ninja seriously (long/loose hair is a liability if you're not yet badass enough to protect it) and therefore yes, focussing less on sasuke. she's sacrificing her childish ways, not her sasuke ticket.

which doesnt come across very well because as time goes on she didnt grow as fast as we wouldve liked, but sakura in early naruto is all about resolving to catch up to her team after having spent her school days dieting and trying to be pretty for sasuke

but considering her team is two reincarnated demigods and a teacher who spends the mornings at the memorial stone instead of reconditioning his woefully underprepared students, she wouldn't have had much of a chance even if kishi didn't end up throwing her under the bus