The secrets buried under the cherry blossom tree are finally rising to the surface. Episode 5 of the Japanese suspense drama Silent Truth, which aired on February 10, 2026, delivered a major turning point that completely changes the way viewers see the case.
While fans expected the episode to focus on Naoto Sakuma’s murder confession, the real bombshell came during his private conversation with Detective Junichi Tobina. Naoto did not just admit to killing his brother. He revealed that for 23 years, he has been protecting a secret about Junichi.
Naoto’s Confession to the Supermarket Murder
The episode opens with Detective Nara Rikako pressing Naoto (Watanabe Daichi) on his alibi. Naoto, the younger half-brother of victim Hideyuki Sakuma, initially claimed he was stuck in traffic returning from a business trip on the night of the murder . However, cracks in his story quickly appeared.
Under interrogation, Naoto finally admitted to the crime. He stated that he visited his brother to discuss Makiko Iwamoto. Hideyuki was blackmailing Makiko over her son’s shoplifting incident and had made inappropriate demands. When Naoto refused to pay the money, his brother pulled out a gun. The two men struggled, and during the fight, the gun went off .
Naoto told police he panicked, ran away, and threw the weapon into a river. He claimed the gun belonged to his brother, who had supposedly found it in the woods years ago. Naoto insisted he did not know the weapon was the same one the four childhood friends had buried in 2003.
The Forbidden Meeting: Junichi Breaks the Rules
Despite being removed from the case due to his personal connection to the suspect, Junichi (Takeuchi Ryoma) refused to accept Naoto’s story. Something did not add up. Naoto claimed he opened the time capsule on Friday night, but Keisuke (Seto Koji) confirmed he opened it earlier that same week. The gun was already missing when Keisuke looked .
Desperate for the truth, Junichi convinced his colleague Nagai Michiya to let him speak with Naoto in detention. This was a clear violation of protocol, but Junichi did not care about the consequences anymore. He needed to know why his childhood friend was lying to protect someone.
The Hidden Truth: “I Saw You Fire the Gun”
This is where Episode 5 delivered its most devastating scene.
When Junichi confronted Naoto about the timeline of the time capsule, Naoto did not answer directly. Instead, he asked Junichi a painful question: why did he return to this town? Why is he still alone? Then Naoto dropped the truth.
“I saw you that day. Twenty-three years ago. I saw you fire the gun.”
Naoto revealed that while the other three children were distracted, he witnessed Junichi pull the trigger. He never told anyone. When the four of them decided to bury the weapon and never speak of it again, Naoto agreed. But he secretly stayed in Mitsuba all these years to watch over the time capsule. He felt responsible for guarding the secret .
Naoto admitted that he fabricated the story about his brother finding the gun. He did it to protect Junichi and to keep the promise they made as children.
Why Naoto Really Confessed to Murder
The episode makes it clear that Naoto did not kill his brother to save Makiko alone. He was also protecting Junichi.
Viewers learned that Hideyuki had discovered the truth about the 23-year-old secret. Naoto realized that if the investigation continued, police would eventually connect the murder weapon to the buried gun, and then to Junichi. By confessing and claiming the gun was his brother’s, Naoto tried to close the case forever .
Watanabe Daichi’s performance in this scene received significant attention from Japanese audiences. The quiet tears streaming down Naoto’s face as he finally told someone the burden he carried for more than two decades struck a deep chord.
The Weight of 23 Years
Episode 5 does not reveal who Junichi shot that day in the forest. The audience only knows that a police officer, Keisuke’s father, died during the bank robbery incident. Junichi has carried this guilt his entire adult life. His obsessive hand-washing, shown in earlier episodes, appears to be a physical manifestation of this trauma .
Junichi’s reaction to Naoto’s confession was not denial. He broke down in tears. He did not argue or claim innocence. His silence confirmed that Naoto was telling the truth .
Streaming and Release Information for Global Audiences
Silent Truth is available for international viewers exclusively on Netflix. New episodes debut every Tuesday.
- United States, Canada, United Kingdom: Available for streaming from Tuesday afternoon local time.
- Australia: Available Wednesday morning (AEDT).
- India: Available Tuesday night (IST).
- Other Global Regions: Accessible via Netflix with Japanese audio and localized subtitles.
Episode 6 is scheduled for release on February 17, 2026 .
The drama airs weekly on TV Asahi in Japan every Tuesday at 9:00 PM JST before landing on Netflix .
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What Episode 5 Means for the Investigation
Naoto’s confession to the murder now stands on shaky ground. If he lied about where the gun came from, he might be lying about the shooting itself.
Viewers are left questioning: Did Naoto actually kill his brother, or did he arrive after the shooting and decide to take the blame? Was Makiko present at the scene? Why did Hideyuki have the buried gun in the first place?
Detective Nara, played by Eguchi Noriko, has already noticed inconsistencies. The preview for Episode 6 shows her investigating who fired a weapon 23 years ago. Her suspicions are shifting away from Naoto and toward someone else in Junichi’s circle .
Cast and Production Background
Silent Truth is adapted from the award-winning novel Saikai by Yokozeki Dai, winner of the 56th Edogawa Ranpo Prize .
The series features a strong leading cast:
- Takeuchi Ryoma as Junichi Tobina
- Inoue Mao as Makiko Iwamoto
- Seto Koji as Keisuke Kiyohara
- Watanabe Daichi as Naoto Sakuma
- Eguchi Noriko as Detective Nara Rikako
- Kamikawa Shusaku as Detective Nagai Michiya
- Kita Kana as Hiromi Imai
Director Fukagawa Yoshihiro and screenwriter Hashibe Atsuko have structured the narrative to slowly peel back layers of deception. The pacing deliberately focuses on emotional weight rather than rapid plot progression .
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