The series is about a high school student named Light who discovers a supernatural notebook that allows him to kill anyone by writing the victim's name and picturing his or her face. The plot follows his attempt to create and lead a world cleansed of evil using the book, and the complex conflict between himself and those assailing him that results.
Along his journey, he meets many new characters, including a few Death gods, L, several members of L's organization, Misa, and Near. While some of them, like Misa, side with him, most of the characters in the series are against him. The whole point of the story is about them chasing after Light and his Death Note.