The Japanese drama Silent Truth (Saikai ~Silent Truth~) took a intense turn on February 17, 2026, with the broadcast of its sixth episode. Viewers finally got answers to the mystery that has been haunting the story since the beginning. The episode, which aired on TV Asahi, pulled back the curtain on the traumatic event that shaped the lives of four childhood friends, and it was as heartbreaking as fans feared .
For weeks, the drama has teased that protagonist Junichi Tobina, played by Takumi Kitamura, was hiding something terrible from his past. Episode 6 confirmed the worst. The hour did not hold back, delivering emotional gut punches and raising the stakes for the characters as the present-day murder investigation collides with the secrets of 23 years ago .
The Core Truth: Junichiโs Confession
The central revelation of Silent Truth Episode 6 is the identity of the person who fired the fatal shot in the woods two decades ago. For years, the four friendsโJunichi, Makiko Iwamoto (Mao Inoue), Keisuke Kiyohara (Koji Seto), and Naoto Sakuma (Daiki Watanabe)โbelieved they were simply witnesses to a tragic shootout between a police officer and a criminal.
The truth, exposed by relentless detective Rikako Nanami (Eriko Eguchi), is far more personal. During a re-enactment at the original crime scene in the forest, Nanami’s sharp questioning forced Junichi to relive that night. The detective pointed out inconsistencies in the official report, particularly noting that Officer Kiyohara (Keisuke’s father) could not have died in a mutual shootout if he was shot in the heart first. The only logical explanation was that someone else fired the weapon .
In the final, agonizing moments of the episode, Junichi broke down. He confessed to the group and to Nanami. As a child, he had arrived at the scene first, found the officer’s body, and come face-to-face with the criminal. In sheer terror, he picked up the fallen officer’s gun and shot the man. The weight of this act, taking a life at such a young age, has been the source of his trauma, his compulsion to wash his hands, and his silent suffering for 23 years .
Makikoโs Alibi Crumbles Under Pressure
While Junichiโs confession was the episode’s biggest moment, the investigation into the present-day murder of Naoto’s brother, Hideyuki Sakuma, took a major step forward. The spotlight turned harshly on Makiko, Junichi’s first love and a current suspect.
Makiko had provided police with an alibi for the time of Hideyuki’s murder, stating she was working at her beauty salon. However, Detective Nanami never let go of this thread. Her surveillance of the salon paid off. She discovered that an employee, Miho, had been using the salon at night without permission. Miho confessed to Nanami that she had been there with her boyfriend on the Saturday of the murder, which was the exact date in question. This confession completely destroyed Makiko’s alibi, leaving her with no verified account of her whereabouts during the crime .
The next morning, when Nanami came to ask Makiko to come to the station for further questioning, Makiko refused. She shut the door and immediately called Junichi to her home. Their meeting was filled with unspoken pain. Knowing the police were closing in, Makiko said goodbye to Junichi, promising not to cause him any more trouble. It was a quiet, devastating scene between two people who clearly still care for each other but are trapped by the secrets of their past .
Revisiting the Night of Five Gunshots
A significant portion of Silent Truth Episode 6 was dedicated to piecing together the chaotic night 23 years ago. Detective Nanami gathered Junichi, Makiko, Keisuke, and Naoto and brought them back to the forest. She made them walk through their memories, detailing every sound and movement.
The investigation revealed the sequence of five gunshots that night:
- Shots 1 and 3: Believed to be warning shots fired by Officer Kiyohara.
- Shots 2 and 4: Shots fired by the criminal, Osamu Ohshima. The fourth shot likely killed Officer Kiyohara.
- Shot 5: The final shot fired by a terrified Junichi, hitting Ohshima .
This meticulous reconstruction not only proved that the official story of a mutual shootout was wrong but also exposed that only Junichi could have fired that last, fatal shot. The scene highlighted Nanami’s brilliant detective work and forced the four friends to finally confront the reality of what they did as children .
Naotoโs Secret and the Burden of Silence
The episode also clarified Naoto’s role in the secret. It was confirmed that Naoto had witnessed Junichi firing the gun that day. He had carried this knowledge for over two decades, choosing to protect his friend by remaining silent. He finally confessed this to Junichi, telling him that he had seen it and that he would never tell anyone .
This revelation added a layer of tragic irony to the story. Naoto, who is currently in custody after confessing to his brother’s murder (a confession many believe is false), has been protecting Junichi all along. His loyalty to his childhood friend may now come at the ultimate price. The episode suggests that Naoto’s confession might be an attempt to shield someone else, possibly Makiko, from being exposed as the killer in the present day .
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What Episode 6 Means for the Investigation
With Junichi’s dark past now public among the group and Makiko’s alibi gone, the investigation has entered a new, more complex phase. The central question of who actually killed Hideyuki Sakuma remains unanswered, but the possibilities are narrowing.
The drama has planted strong clues pointing towards Makiko. The lack of an alibi and her emotional goodbye to Junichi suggest she may be preparing to flee or face arrest. However, Naoto’s false confession complicates matters. It is possible he is taking the blame to protect Makiko, whom he also cares for deeply. The show has masterfully set up a scenario where any of the four friends could be involved, driven by the secrets they have kept since childhood .
The episode ended with the group standing in the forest, the weight of Junichi’s confession hanging in the air. The past is no longer a hidden wound but an open crime scene, and it has direct links to the murder investigation. With half the series completed, the remaining episodes promise a frantic race to the truth as loyalties are tested and the full scope of the “Silent Truth” is finally revealed.
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