Kenshin Uesugi is the leader of the Uesugi army in the anime Sengoku Night Blood. Known as the Dragon of Echigo, he is a werewolf and a military commander of great renown and skill. His background is rooted in a childhood spent training in Zen at a temple, an experience that fundamentally shaped his worldview and character. This upbringing instilled in him a deep sense of honor, duty, and compassion, leading him to become a leader who cannot turn away from those who ask for his help and who strives to act as a general of justice.

In terms of personality, Kenshin is most often seen as calm, composed, and reserved, rarely displaying strong emotions in casual situations. He is a person of few words but great depth, possessing a strong inner sense of righteousness. However, this serene exterior belies a more complex character; he is known to become troublesome and difficult if someone manages to genuinely anger him. Despite his stoic demeanor, he has a noted fondness for elegant and cultured pastimes. His hobbies include composing traditional poetry and reading romance novels, a secret he is somewhat embarrassed about. He is also highly skilled at playing the biwa, a Japanese lute, and often enjoys spending quiet evenings alone, appreciating the moon while drinking sake. He has a well-known fondness for pickled plums as a snack with his drinks.

Kenshin's primary motivation is to lead his army with honor and protect those under his command, while constantly questioning whether his actions in battle truly uphold his personal code of justice. He reflects on the sacrifices made in combat, praying in a temple after battles to contemplate the meaning of the blood that was shed and to soothe the souls of the fallen with his music. Within the story, he plays a pivotal role as the lord of the Uesugi forces, commanding a group of loyal and skilled retainers including his adopted son Kagekatsu Uesugi, as well as Kanetsugu Naoe, Kagemochi Amakasu, and Kageie Kakizaki. A key relationship is his connection with his son, Kagekatsu, whom he cares for deeply and in whom he places great expectations. However, their relationship is marked by a significant lack of communication and a formal distance that creates a difficult emotional barrier between them. His primary antagonistic counterpart is the Takeda army, led by his rival Shingen Takeda, and the two forces often clash.

Throughout the narrative, Kenshin undergoes subtle development, particularly in his role as a father. Despite holding Kagekatsu in high regard as a crucial part of the army and as his successor, Kenshin struggles to connect with him on a personal level. This leads to a "parent-child communication crisis" that becomes a central challenge for him, forcing him to confront his own emotional reserve. His interactions with the main protagonist also reveal a gentler side; while he is usually taciturn, his expression softens around the one he cares for, and he can be surprisingly direct and bold in expressing his affection, even taking the protagonist into his arms with ease. In terms of abilities, Kenshin is not only a peerless strategist and military commander but also possesses formidable physical power as a werewolf. His aesthetic is noted for his blue hair and purple eyes, which, combined with his wolf ears, give him a distinctive appearance.