Board Thread:Naruto Discussions/@comment-32864768-20180916164445/@comment-9782468-20180917135312

Before the fight with Zabuza, Naruto's goal was still to become Hokage. But he only wanted to be Hokage so everyone would acknowledge him.

After his fight with Zabuza, his motivations shifted to him wanting to not just becoming a killing tool, and to protect those precious to him. And to not lose his conviction in his motivation (I never go back on my word, that's my Ninja Way!). Some of Naruto's most defining character traits came from the fights with Zabuza and Haku.

He could probably learn those values elsewhere too. But I think that life and death scenario and the way the events played out made it so Naruto was changed far more than any other fight would have. Even Neji.