For many years, Kenshi traveled the world in search of worthy opponents. He had only one goal in life — to be the best. While in Japan, Kenshi met a man named Song, who was able to convince Kenshi that a great warrior needed a sword worthy of him. Song took Kenshi to the tomb where this "great sword" was kept. As soon as Kenshi opened the well in which the sword lay, the souls of the dead warriors attacked and blinded him. Song then revealed his true identity—it was none other than the sorcerer Shang Tsung. He found out that Kenshi belongs to a long-forgotten clan of warrior kings, and decided to absorb the souls of his ancestors. Having accomplished the dirty deed, Shang Tsung left the blinded Kenshi to die in the tomb. But the swordsman did not die. The sword that Song-Shang Tsung talked about actually existed. He attracted Kenshi to him and was able to get him out of the tomb.

Kenshi spent the next few years learning how to fight using his remaining senses, as well as searching for the one who blinded him and defiled the souls of his ancestors. Kenshi's abilities attracted the attention of Sonya Blade and Jax, who were looking for people with special talents so that they could work for the Agency for the Exploration of the Outside World as scouts in this unfriendly reality. Kenshi agreed to join them, as it could lead him to the person who had deceived him.

The chance to take his revenge presented itself to Kenshi when he was sent to the Outside World to find a missing former member of the Lin Kuei clan, Agent Cyrax.[1] While traveling around the Outside World, Kenshi encountered Ermak and, taking pity on him, destroyed his connection with Shao Kahn, granting the warrior freedom. In gratitude for this, Ermak trained Kenshi to make better use of his telekinesis abilities. [2] Kenshi soon found out about the Deadly Alliance, but he could not report it to Earth because the Agency's headquarters was destroyed by the agent of the Red Dragon Hsu Hao. Meanwhile, the Deadly Alliance was aware of Kenshi's presence in the Outside World and sent Mavado to kill

The warrior Lin Kuei Sub-Zero saved Kenshi from death and helped him recover from his wounds. While Kenshi was recovering, the souls of his ancestors informed him that they had returned to his sword, which meant that Shang Tsung was dead and Kenshi had no more reason to stay in the Outside World. He and Sub-Zero formed a temporary alliance to find the portal through which Sub-Zero arrived in the Outside World. On the way, he learned from Sub-Zero about the new ally of the Dragon King Onaga, a warrior from the Kingdom of Order — Hotaru, who attacked Sub-Zero after he destroyed the Tarkatan camp in the forest. Despite the fact that Sub-Zero thought Hotaru was dead, Kenshi felt someone's presence following them.[3]

Upon returning to Earth, Kenshi relinquished his position in the Special Forces Unit. He also did not join Lin Kuei, preferring to become a lone warrior again. Guided by the sword of his ancestors, Kenshi began to hunt scoundrels and criminals, killing those who posed a danger to ordinary people. By striking out of the darkness, Kenshi was able to destroy several criminal organizations. Kenshi managed to intercept an encrypted message for Mavado from the Red Dragon organization. It talked about a clever plan created to trap one person: an Edenic half-god named Taven. Before Kenshi could discover the Red Dragon base, he was met by his former ally Johnny Cage. He said that the fallen elder god Shinnok had made himself felt again and therefore he was gathering the warriors of Light to discuss the upcoming battle plan. Kenshi refused to take part in another battle of "good" and "evil"; he had his own plans — the destruction of the Red Dragon and Mavado organization.

While alone in the bothan jungle, Kenshi felt a powerful psi scream. Through him, he learned about the quest of Taven and Dagon and about the fire elemental Blaze. The sword of Kenshi also heard this cry and began to ask Kenshi to join the warriors of Light again. Although Kenshi had received insights from the sword before, this time he seemed to be drawn into battle, as if the sword wanted to take Kenshi to the place of a future grand battle. Kenshi decided that he would not resist this call and would lead all the warriors of Light.[4]

Like all the other fighters, Kenshi died in the battle near the pyramid of Argus.