

According to [the Naruto Wiki page on
Jiraiya](http://naruto.wikia.com/wiki/Jiraiya), he

> "left Konoha so he could follow Orochimaru's movements, as well as those of
> "Akatsuki", an organization which Orochimaru had eventually joined."

* * *

Orochimaru was at Konoha during the [Chuunin Exam
Arc](http://naruto.wikia.com/wiki/Ch%C5%ABnin_Exam_Arc), making his first
appearance (as far as I remember) during the [second
phase](http://naruto.wikia.com/wiki/Ch%C5%ABnin_Exam_Arc#Second_Phase) (in the
Forest of Death).  
Jiraiya made his first appearance between the
[preliminaries](http://naruto.wikia.com/wiki/Ch%C5%ABnin_Exam_Arc#Preliminaries)
and the [finals](http://naruto.wikia.com/wiki/Ch%C5%ABnin_Exam_Arc#Finals) (in
chapter 90).  
There is a fairly short period of time between these two appearances.

* * *

We quickly see that Jiraiya knows who Naruto is, as he is trying to control
his chakra to walk on water (in chapter 91). He first notices something when
he sees Naruto trying to walk on water:  
[![Chapter 91, page
10](https://i.stack.imgur.com/5WbwEm.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/5WbwE.jpg)  
We then have a full confirmation that he knows who he is:  
[![Chapter 91, page
12](https://i.stack.imgur.com/zSRKqm.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/zSRKq.jpg)  
In this chapter he also notices that there is some weird overlaying of seals,
which he deduces was Orochimaru's work.

* * *

Now, my question is:  
**Did Naruto and Jiraiya meet by chance, as Jiraiya was tracking down
Orochimaru's movements?** (in which case Jiraiya only knew who Naruto was
after seeing the seal in his stomach)  
**Or did he know who Naruto was before having seen him trying to walk on
water, and tracked him down?** (possibly to protect him from Orochimaru, and
in which case he would've been watching over Naruto since his parents died)


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naruto
Did Jiraiya meet Naruto by chance?


It probably depends on how far you are with the series:

> Jiraya knew who Naruto was from the beginning, Minato talked with Jiraya and
> made him his godfather, he also told Jiraya they are going to name him
> Naruto. So he knew about Naruto and watched over him from birth and started
> training him later on.

  1. They didn't meet by chance, he already knew about Naruto and the seal, he knew about the 4th's seal, that's how he knew it had been tampered with by Orochimaru. 

  2. I think this is the case, Jiraya said he was getting research for his book, but I think Jiraya, being his godfather, tracked him down to begin his training.


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Jiraiya knew Naruto's parents, well actually he knew the whole backstory. So,
he would have definitely known that Naruto is the 'nine tails' from start. He
didn't come forward because Naruto was not ready. As we see, the first time
they meet, Jiraiya was acting like he didn't care about Naruto, but right
after commits to train him.


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Something that most of the answers have missed is Jiriya was the keeper of the
key to the seal that was used to seal the nine tailed fox. So he has to know
about Naruto being the Jinchuriki.

Next point is, the name "Naruto" is actually the name of the character that
Jiraya created in his first book. In later episodes it is shown that Minato
decided that he too would name his child as Naruto, and Jiraya comments that,
that makes him the godfather to the child.

Now, had Jiraya known Naruto by name and face is just speculation, as no
substantial information has been provided in this matter, but he is sure to
have recognised who this "Naruto" is once Naruto mentions his name to him.
Furthermore, once he sees the seal on Naruto's stomach (the key of which lock
lies with him) there shouldn't be any more doubts for him.


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Jiraiya should have already known who Naruto was because he knew Minato (4th
hokage). Naruto and his dad Minato look so much alike, as Jiraiya said himself
in one of the episodes, so he probably was acting as if he didn't know Naruto.
Plus, Minato asked Jiraiya if he could name his son Naruto after the character
in the book Jiraiya wrote ("tales of a gutsy ninja").


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