Why Izawa and Others Did Not Notice Ryuk's Absence in Death Note

In the series Death Note, the reason why Izawa and the other characters did not realize that Ryuk was gone after Light Yagami transferred ownership of the Death Note to Teru Mikami remains a mysterious plot point that puzzled many viewers. The answer lies in the complex interplay of the rules governing the Shinigami realm, the circumstances of the transfer, and the characters' preoccupations.

Ownership Transfer

When Light transferred ownership of the Death Note to Teru Mikami, the Shinigami Ryuk, who was originally Light's associated Shinigami, had to follow the rules of the Death Note. According to these rules, Shinigami can only be seen by the current owner of the Death Note. Therefore, once Light relinquished ownership, Ryuk's presence was no longer visible to him or anyone else, including Izawa and other members of the investigation team.

Distracted Investigation Team

The investigation team, including Izawa, was heavily focused on the unfolding events and trying to capture Kira (Light). Their attention was divided, and they were dealing with the immediate crisis of Mikami's actions. This distraction prevented them from noticing Ryuk's absence. The urgency of the situation and the numerous puzzles they were working on kept their focus away from the Death Note and its supernatural elements.

Ryuk's Nature

Ryuk is a Shinigami who is indifferent to the human world and its affairs. He often observes rather than intervenes. His departure was not something he made a big deal about, and he did not draw attention to himself when he left. This quietness further contributed to the lack of realization about his absence. Ryuk's nonchalant demeanor, combined with the focus of the investigation team, ensured that his leaving went unnoticed.

In a more detailed look, Aizawa had a separate narrative related to the ownership of the Death Note. It was revealed that Ryuk was never really Teru Mikami's Shinigami. Ryuk had been Misa's Shinigami all along. After Light and Misa killed L and hid the original notebook in the park, Misa had become the owner of the Death Note. Consequently, Ryuk never resided with Mikami.

During a Kira riot that was meticulously planned, the ownership of the Death Note became even more complicated. An additional Shinigami, named Shidou, appeared with an extra Death Note. Shidou was somehow gifted an extra book and briefly gave it to Mello, allowing him to join in the fun with Ryuk. The chaos led to Russell taking Mello's notebook, which magically led to a third Kira, Teru Mikami. This further underscored the confusion and changing dynamics of the Death Note's ownership.

The implication here is that the rules and ownership of the Death Note are not as straightforward as they initially seemed. The narrative introduced an extra layer of complexity, with multiple Shinigami and notebooks in play, adding an extra dimension of intrigue to the story.

In summary, the combination of the rules governing the Death Note, the characters' preoccupations, and Ryuk's nonchalant demeanor contributed to the lack of realization about his absence. The additional Shinigami and notebooks added further complexity to the story, making it even more intriguing for fans of the series.