Light Yagami is the perfect student, probably the smartest you'll ever see. He picks up a Death Note on his way home from school and his life is changed forever. He goes on a killing spree by ridding the world of all evil (or what he deems evil, rather). A detective named L Lawliet decided that this was too much, and stepped in to end Light's killing spree. They fight a long battle of wits!

The second arc comes along, a wannabe named Near and a chocoholic named Mello become the new protagonists (well actually Mello is more of an anti-hero). Anyway, they challenge Light (who is still trying to kill these evil guys). But Light is very smart, how will they be able to put a stop to reign of evil? The only way to find out is...

Read the manga.