[The thing is, Sasuke doesn't even think of it like that. Words are what they are, but Team 7 was his assigned team in Konoha, and Taka is his hunter team for tactical reasons. No more, no less. He doesn't even catch Sakura's cringe.]

After Oto. I gathered them when I first overtook Orochimaru. [A beat, when he continues, his voice is flat.] Their purpose was to locate Itachi and subdue any surrounding threat.