SPK

A little over four years after L dies, in the March of 2012, Near meets with the president of the United States to discuss Higuchi and the Death Note. Near tells him that the Japanese police possess the notebook and that the real L is dead. With the support of the president, Near joins the newly formed Special Provision for Kira (SPK) group.

On one particular day, Light’s father learns that the director of the police has been kidnapped and is being ransomed for the Death Note. Soon after, Souichirou gets visited by an FBI agent who asks for the notebook. Souichirou assumes that the FBI were the ones who kidnapped the director, but as Near—who is listening in on the conversation through the agent—soon figures out, there’s another faction at work.

Near quickly learns that Mello—the older of L's two successors raised in Wammy's House—is behind the kidnapping. Four years ago, when the two rivals separated, Mello decided to find Kira his own way by joining the Mafia. He eventually obtains one of the Death Notes after his plan works flawlessly. Because of this, Light sets up a raid that leaves Mello badly scarred. During these events, Near decides to have the SPK not to take any action, possibly so that he can better examine the actions of the "new" L.

Afterwards—even though Near tells Light that he could have not done anything to stop Mello even if he would have counterattacked—this unexpected mistake leaves many of the members of the SPK dead after Mello's team writes their names in the notebook.