Inside



Inside (内部, Naibu) is the second chapter of Volume seven and 54th chapter overall.

Plot
In a flashback sequence dating all the way back when Misa was detained by L, Light asks Rem and Ryuk what happens to the ownership of the notebook once a human has given it up. They answer that ownership reverts back to the original Shinigami owner. Then, Light asks if only one notebook is needed to retain all memories. They confirm this. Light also asks if he can only regain the memories of the Death Note by regaining ownership of the Death Note. Rem answers that all that is needed to regain the memories is to touch the notebook. However, once a human loses contact with the notebook and he has not reclaimed ownership, then his regained memories will once again vanish.

Light then gives up the ownership of the Death Note and returns his Death Note to Ryuk. In turn, Ryuk gives the notebook to Rem. Then, Light instruct to give the notebook to a greedy human being who is willing to kill anyone for personal gain. However, this person must promise to continue killing criminals in exchange. Light promises Rem that if she does this, Misa will be free from her confinement. If she is never liberated, then Rem has every right in the world to kill Light.

Light then buries the other notebook in the forest where he plans to have Misa find it later. He plans to throw off L’s suspicion of him by working closely with him to find the new Kira. Once L and his investigation team has gained possession of the Death Note, Light will touch it and kill the current owner of the notebook, thus regaining ownership. Light has even prepare a piece of the Death Note that is hidden inside his watch in order to kill the current Death Note owner.

Back in the present, Higuchi is being taken away by the investigation team. Being careful not to let himself get spotted by L, Light takes out the Death Note piece in his watch and write Higuchi’s name in blood. Higuchi collapses.

Conception
The chapter's title "Inside" refers to is the piece of the Death Note inside of Light's watch. Ohba said that "Inside" also refers to the Death Note that Light had buried underground, as well as the letter being inside that Death Note, and also the fake rules being inside the other notebook. Ohba explained that the reader is not meant to be aware of those aspects when they start reading the chapter.