Kenshin was a young boy named Shinta. Shinta's parents died when he was around the age of eight in a cholera epidemic. A year later, Shinta was bought by slave traders, who were soon attacked and killed by a group of bandits. The young boy's life was saved by his soon-to-be master, Hiko Seijuro.

The name Kenshin was given to Shinta by Hiko, feeling as though Shinta was too weak of a name for someone who was about to becoming a samurai. Kenshin trained in Hiko's style, Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu, for less than a decade. By time he reached his teenage years, Kenshin felt the need to save people's lives and bring about change. His way of thinking led him to leave Hiko and become what he's most famous for, the Hitokiri Battousai.

Battousai worked for the Chousho Clan led by Katsura Kogoro. His skills as a Hitokiri were so great, it made him the most feared hitman in Japan. He killed people, mainly tyrants of the Tokugawa Government, in order to create a world where people can live without fear. One night, he had killed a man named Akira Kiyosato, finacé of Yukishiro Tomoe. The assassination of Kiyosato led to a series of events, where Kenshin finally ended up falling in love with the woman who's fiancé he killed.

Unfortunately, Kenshin was trying to be killed off by those who supported the current government. In a battle, Tomoe was killed along with Kenshin's opponent. The Battousai had a revived spirit to help create the new government, which he did. Over a little more than a few years, the Meiji Government rose, but the Battousai disappeared into the shadows.

Kenshin had become a rurouni, atoning for the sins he comitted as the Hitokiri Battousai. He vowed never to kill again with a sword, thus wielding a Sakabatou, a sword with the blade reversed. The legend of the man that helped create the Meiji Government is well known. One day, while traveling through the streets of Tokyo, he had encountered Kamiya Kaoru, whom he later married and even had a son with. It was time the ruoruni to stop traveling. Kenshin had not intended to do so, but he stayed in Tokyo with Kaoru at her Kamiya Dojo. Friendships were forged, most importantly with Myoujin Yahiko and Sagara Sanosuke. Every so often, people tried to challenge Kenshin, aware that he was the Hitokiri Battousai, to prove their worth. The only person so possessed to defeat Kenshin was Shinomori Aoshi.

Not only has Kenshin halted petty crimes and saved people's lives, but he even saved the Meiji Government from being taken over by Shishio Makoto. Kenshin has that personality where he meets a person, then immediately makes friends with them. For a man that was once Japan's best assassin, Kenshin is very kind and sweet. As the Battousai, people pointed out that Kenshin was still a child on the inside. Whenever a loved one is in danger, that is the only time Kenshin would get serious. At times, the Hitokiri begins to show, but Kenshin does all he can to prevent himself from becoming a killer once again.

The two scars on Kenshin's face were created by Kiyosato and Tomoe. The cross shaped scar stays on Kenshin's left cheek for almost the entire series. It begins to slowly fade away when he beats Enishi. By time that happens, Kenshin's body is so worn out from fighting, he can't take anymore risks. The Sakabatou which he carried for many years was handed down to his successor, Yahiko. Successor, meaning that Yahiko will continue to carry on Kenshin's goal, not his style and techniques.