Board Thread:Naruto Discussions/@comment-1018594-20160409062530/@comment-9782468-20160928161537

Zabuza had such an important role in the story, I keep forgetting.

Up until that point, Naruto only ever wanted to be recognized. That was his goal. That and to get powerful.

After the whole Zabuza and Haku thing, he realized how awful being a Shinboi could be and decided to always protect those he cared about. And it was a lesson he carried through the entire story. Every single time Sasuke did something undeniably evil and stupid, he would not abandon him.

Zabuza and Haku's lesson stayed with him for that long. Blows my mind thinkin about it