The latest episode of the Japanese murder mystery drama Silent Truth aired on February 10, 2026, and it has completely flipped the investigation on its head. Viewers watched Naoto Sakuma (Daichi Watanabe) confess to killing his older brother, supermarket manager Hideyuki Sakuma. But instead of closing the case, the confession has opened the floodgates for thousands of fan theories online.
The core question buzzing on social media and drama forums is no longer โDid Naoto do it?โ but rather, โWho is Naoto really protecting?โ
While the police in the drama are treating Naoto as the shooter, audiences are digging deeper into the โ23-year secretโ that Naoto mentioned during his interrogation. The suspicion is growing that Makiko Iwamoto (Mao Inoue) , the childhood friend and first love of detective Junichi Tobina (Ryoma Takeuchi), may be the real culprit.
Here is a detailed breakdown of where the Silent Truth investigation stands after Episode 5, the evidence pointing away from Naoto, and the heartbreaking theory that is gaining the most traction.
The Confession That Raised More Questions Than Answers
In Episode 5, Naoto is brought in for questioning by Detective Rikako Nara (Noriko Eguchi). His alibiโclaiming he was stuck in traffic during the time of the murderโfalls apart when investigators confirm there was no traffic jam on his route. Gas station security footage also places Naoto near the crime scene.
When confronted, Naoto confesses to shooting Hideyuki. On the surface, the motive seems clear. Hideyuki, the legitimate son of the family, constantly looked down on Naoto. He also blackmailed Makiko after catching her son, Masaki, shoplifting at the supermarket.
But then Naoto says something strange. He tells Junichi, who visits him in detention, that he decided to โlock something away in his chest forever.โ This line has become the center of every major fan theory.
Why Viewers Believe Naoto Is Lying
Japanese entertainment site Gentลsha published a detailed analysis shortly after the episode aired suggesting that Naotoโs confession is filled with lies . The theory argues that Naoto is deliberately taking the blame for someone else.
The missing button. When Hideyukiโs body was found, a button was recovered at the scene. Police believed it came from the killerโs clothing. Naoto is always dressed neatly in suits, and his clothing showed no damage. Viewers noted that Makiko, however, was seen clutching her coat in several scenes. It is speculated the missing button belongs to her.
The 300,000 yen payment. Hideyuki demanded money from Makiko. She visited his office the day before the murder to pay him. But in earlier police questioning, Makiko lied and said she only visited once. It was later revealed she returned on the day of the murder. Why did she lie? Fans believe she was there when Hideyuki was shot.
The high school flashback. Episode 5 included the first flashback to the charactersโ high school days. It showed Hideyuki harassing Makiko. When Makiko slapped Hideyuki in front of his peers to stop him, Hideyukiโs expression turned dark and vengeful. Many viewers believe this flashback hints that Hideyuki attacked Makiko back then, and that the trauma is connected to the present murder.
The Makiko as Shooter Theory Explained
The leading theory suggests that Makiko pulled the trigger, and Naoto is covering for her.
Here is how viewers believe it played out. When Makiko went to confront Hideyuki on the day of the murder, things turned violent. Hideyuki may have tried to harm Makiko again, just like in high school. In self-defense, Makiko shot him using the missing gun from the time capsule.
Naoto arrived at the scene shortly after. He saw Makiko standing over the body. Knowing his brotherโs history of cruelty toward her, and realizing Makiko acted out of fear, Naoto made a split-second decision. He told her to leave, removed evidence linking her to the crime, and confessed to the shooting himself.
This theory aligns with the dramaโs theme of โchildhood friends protecting each other from a 23-year-old secret.โ It also explains why Naoto remains calm in detention. He is not worried about himself; he is keeping his promise to protect Makiko.
The 23-Year Secret Is Not About the Murder
Episode 5 also confirmed something viewers long suspected. The person who shot the bank robber 23 years ago was Junichi.
Junichiโs obsessive hand-washing, his refusal to marry his girlfriend Hiromi, and his distance from Makiko all stem from the guilt of having killed a man when he was just 12 years old. The four childrenโJunichi, Makiko, Keisuke, and Naotoโburied the gun to protect Junichi.
This means the current murder investigation is tragically linked to that day. The gun used to kill Hideyuki is the same gun Junichi used decades ago. Junichi is now investigating a crime committed with the weapon from his own past.
Naotoโs True Feelings Add to the Heartbreak
Another layer to the theory involves Naotoโs personal feelings. In high school, Naoto was likely the one who dug up the gun to protect Makiko from Hideyuki. He could not pull the trigger then, and Hideyuki took the weapon from him.
Now, 17 years later, Naoto finally has the chance to do what he could not do as a teenager. Even if he did not fire the shot, he can take the punishment for it. For viewers, this makes Naoto one of the most tragic characters in the series.
Online comments describe Naotoโs actions as โthe ultimate act of love and atonement.โ He is paying for the sins of his brother while also freeing Makiko from the nightmare that has followed her since high school.
What the Cast and Production Tell Us
Silent Truth is based on the novel Saikai by Dai Yokozeki, winner of the 56th Edogawa Rampo Prize . The television adaptation is written by Atsuko Hashibe, known for her character-driven human dramas. Director Yoshihiro Fukagawa has a style that focuses on emotional weight rather than just plot twists.
The casting also supports the theory that Makiko is central to the tragedy. Mao Inoue is known for playing strong yet vulnerable heroines. It would be dramatically unsatisfying for her character to be merely a suspectโs friend. Placing her at the emotional and criminal center of the resolution fits the story the writers are building.
Ryoma Takeuchi has described his character Junichi as a man trapped by his past. If Junichi is forced to arrest Makikoโthe woman he still lovesโit would be the cruelest outcome of the investigation. This is far more impactful than Junichi simply arresting Naoto.
Streaming and Broadcast Details
Silent Truth airs every Tuesday at 9:00 PM on TV Asahi in Japan .
For global audiences, the drama is available on Netflix. The platform lists 10 total episodes, with new episodes released weekly . As of February 12, 2026, five episodes are available to stream .
The series is scheduled to conclude on March 15, 2026.
The theme song, Sekai ga Owarimashita (The World Has Ended), is performed by popular Japanese singer-songwriter Yuuri . The melancholic tone of the song matches the dramaโs atmosphere of lost love and irreversible mistakes.
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Why the Naoto Theory Matters for the Remaining Episodes
With five episodes left, the story cannot simply end with Naoto in jail. The narrative has invested too much time in Makikoโs lies, Junichiโs guilt, and Naotoโs quiet suffering.
If Makiko is the shooter, the remaining episodes will focus on whether Junichi discovers the truth and what he does with it. As a police officer, he is sworn to uphold the law. As a man, he understands why Makiko did it.
This dilemma is the emotional core of Silent Truth. It is not a simple whodunit. It is a story about whether some crimes can be forgiven when the legal system cannot.
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