Yagami Light is a brilliant student. But when he discovers a notebook labeled "Death Note" on the ground, he discovers that any name you write in the notebook will kill the person. Light undertakes a "noble" quest to kill criminals using the notebook, but when a string of unexplained deaths alerts the authorities, L, master detective, is put to work on the case. How long can Light avoid the authorities, even with the help of the rogue shinigami who dropped the notebook in the first place?