diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 52612257e..e9ef251a4 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -53,6 +53,16 @@ Before opening a pull request:
 - Explain any preserved `MINIO_*`, `minio_*`, `x-minio-*`, `/minio/*`,
   `.minio.sys`, ARN, module/import-path, or serialized compatibility name.
 
+The maintenance branch retains the existing read-quorum and healing policy.
+Deferred strict-read and cross-pool recovery tests are preserved behind the
+`consistency_strict` build tag. Run them explicitly with
+`go test -tags kqueue,dev,consistency_strict ./cmd`; known failures must be
+reported separately, not described as fixed or included in a passing result.
+They cover late commits after lease loss, stale metadata reads, and stricter
+read refusal. The normal suite covers the retained write/undo/cleanup fixes
+and continued readability after a failed partial overwrite. This scope does
+not provide distributed fencing or repair previously inconsistent objects.
+
 ### Commit changes
 
 After verification, commit your changes with a concise message and a DCO
diff --git a/cmd/erasure-healing-common.go b/cmd/erasure-healing-common.go
index fd204383d..0bde3107d 100644
--- a/cmd/erasure-healing-common.go
+++ b/cmd/erasure-healing-common.go
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ func listObjectModtimes(partsMetadata []FileInfo, errs []error) (modTimes []time
 
 func filterOnlineDisksInplace(fi FileInfo, partsMetadata []FileInfo, onlineDisks []StorageAPI) {
 	for i, meta := range partsMetadata {
-		if sameFileInfoVersion(fi, meta) {
+		if fi.XLV1 == meta.XLV1 {
 			continue
 		}
 		onlineDisks[i] = nil
diff --git a/cmd/erasure-healing.go b/cmd/erasure-healing.go
index f6792aee7..8fb371270 100644
--- a/cmd/erasure-healing.go
+++ b/cmd/erasure-healing.go
@@ -373,9 +373,6 @@ func (er *erasureObjects) healObject(ctx context.Context, bucket string, object
 	if err != nil {
 		return result, err
 	}
-	if err := checkObjectGenerationQuorum(latestMeta, partsMetadata, errs); err != nil {
-		return result, err
-	}
 
 	// No modtime quorum
 	filterDisksByETag := quorumETag != ""
diff --git a/cmd/erasure-metadata.go b/cmd/erasure-metadata.go
index 5f1c92ac2..1c3209f24 100644
--- a/cmd/erasure-metadata.go
+++ b/cmd/erasure-metadata.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ package cmd
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"encoding/hex"
 	"fmt"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
@@ -27,6 +28,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/minio/minio/internal/amztime"
 	"github.com/minio/minio/internal/bucket/lifecycle"
 	"github.com/minio/minio/internal/bucket/replication"
+	"github.com/minio/minio/internal/crypto"
+	"github.com/minio/minio/internal/hash/sha256"
 	xhttp "github.com/minio/minio/internal/http"
 	"github.com/pgsty/silo-pkg/v3/sync/errgroup"
 )
@@ -316,48 +319,68 @@ func findFileInfoInQuorum(ctx context.Context, metaArr []FileInfo, modTime time.
 	if quorum < 1 {
 		return FileInfo{}, InsufficientReadQuorum{Err: errErasureReadQuorum, Type: RQInsufficientOnlineDrives}
 	}
-	// Group by exact logical state rather than a layout-only hash. There are
-	// at most one erasure set's worth of candidates; healthy objects compare
-	// against a single representative without hashing or a second XL decode.
-	groups := make([]int, len(metaArr))
-	representatives := make([]int, 0, len(metaArr))
-	counts := make([]int, len(metaArr)+1)
+	metaHashes := make([]string, len(metaArr))
+	h := sha256.New()
 	for i, meta := range metaArr {
 		if !meta.IsValid() {
 			continue
 		}
-		etagOnly := modTime.Equal(timeSentinel) && etag != "" && etag == meta.Metadata["etag"]
-		if !meta.ModTime.Equal(modTime) && !etagOnly {
-			continue
-		}
-		group := 0
-		for j, representative := range representatives {
-			if sameFileInfoVersion(metaArr[representative], meta) {
-				group = j + 1
-				break
+		etagOnly := modTime.Equal(timeSentinel) && (etag != "" && etag == meta.Metadata["etag"])
+		mtimeValid := meta.ModTime.Equal(modTime)
+		if mtimeValid || etagOnly {
+			fmt.Fprintf(h, "%v", meta.XLV1)
+			for _, part := range meta.Parts {
+				fmt.Fprintf(h, "part.%d", part.Number)
+				fmt.Fprintf(h, "part.%d", part.Size)
 			}
+			// Previously we checked if we had quorum on DataDir value.
+			// We have removed this check to allow reading objects with different DataDir
+			// values in a few drives (due to a rebalance-stop race bug)
+			// provided their their etags or ModTimes match.
+
+			if !meta.Deleted && meta.Size != 0 {
+				fmt.Fprintf(h, "%v+%v", meta.Erasure.DataBlocks, meta.Erasure.ParityBlocks)
+				fmt.Fprintf(h, "%v", meta.Erasure.Distribution)
+			}
+
+			if meta.IsRemote() {
+				// ILM transition fields
+				fmt.Fprint(h, meta.TransitionStatus)
+				fmt.Fprint(h, meta.TransitionTier)
+				fmt.Fprint(h, meta.TransitionedObjName)
+				fmt.Fprint(h, meta.TransitionVersionID)
+			}
+
+			// If metadata says encrypted, ask for it in quorum.
+			if etyp, ok := crypto.IsEncrypted(meta.Metadata); ok {
+				fmt.Fprint(h, etyp)
+			}
+
+			// If compressed, look for compressed FileInfo only
+			if meta.IsCompressed() {
+				fmt.Fprint(h, meta.Metadata[ReservedMetadataPrefix+"compression"])
+			}
+
+			metaHashes[i] = hex.EncodeToString(h.Sum(nil))
+			h.Reset()
 		}
-		if group == 0 {
-			representatives = append(representatives, i)
-			group = len(representatives)
-		}
-		groups[i] = group
-		counts[group]++
 	}
-	maxGroup, maxCount := 0, 0
-	tied := false
-	for group, count := range counts {
-		if group == 0 {
+
+	metaHashCountMap := make(map[string]int)
+	for _, hash := range metaHashes {
+		if hash == "" {
 			continue
 		}
-		if count > maxCount {
-			maxGroup, maxCount, tied = group, count, false
-		} else if count == maxCount {
-			tied = true
-		}
+		metaHashCountMap[hash]++
 	}
-	if tied {
-		return FileInfo{}, InsufficientReadQuorum{Err: errErasureReadQuorum, Type: RQInconsistentMeta}
+
+	maxHash := ""
+	maxCount := 0
+	for hash, count := range metaHashCountMap {
+		if count > maxCount {
+			maxCount = count
+			maxHash = hash
+		}
 	}
 
 	if maxCount < quorum {
@@ -374,8 +397,8 @@ func findFileInfoInQuorum(ctx context.Context, metaArr []FileInfo, modTime time.
 	otherPropsMap := make(counterMap[objProps])
 	var candidate FileInfo
 	var found bool
-	for i, group := range groups {
-		if group == maxGroup {
+	for i, hash := range metaHashes {
+		if hash == maxHash {
 			if metaArr[i].IsValid() {
 				if !found {
 					candidate = metaArr[i]
diff --git a/cmd/erasure-object.go b/cmd/erasure-object.go
index c2dbcfdcb..16dc41326 100644
--- a/cmd/erasure-object.go
+++ b/cmd/erasure-object.go
@@ -126,9 +126,6 @@ func (er erasureObjects) CopyObject(ctx context.Context, srcBucket, srcObject, d
 	if err != nil {
 		return oi, toObjectErr(err, srcBucket, srcObject)
 	}
-	if err := checkObjectGenerationQuorum(fi, metaArr, errs); err != nil {
-		return oi, toObjectErr(err, srcBucket, srcObject)
-	}
 	if fi.Deleted {
 		if srcOpts.VersionID == "" {
 			return oi, toObjectErr(errFileNotFound, srcBucket, srcObject)
@@ -620,18 +617,6 @@ func readAllRawFileInfo(ctx context.Context, disks []StorageAPI, bucket, object
 	return rawFileInfos, g.Wait()
 }
 
-// An older quorum cannot resolve a later overwrite of the same version.
-// Reads and healing must preserve that uncertainty rather than roll back
-// the visible object or erase the newer fragments.
-func checkObjectGenerationQuorum(fi FileInfo, metadata []FileInfo, errs []error) error {
-	for i, meta := range metadata {
-		if errs[i] == nil && meta.IsValid() && meta.VersionID == fi.VersionID && meta.ModTime.After(fi.ModTime) {
-			return InsufficientReadQuorum{Err: errErasureReadQuorum, Type: RQInconsistentMeta}
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
 func pickLatestQuorumFilesInfo(ctx context.Context, rawFileInfos []RawFileInfo, errs []error, bucket, object string, readData, inclFreeVers bool) ([]FileInfo, []error) {
 	metadataArray := make([]*xlMetaV2, len(rawFileInfos))
 	metaFileInfos := make([]FileInfo, len(rawFileInfos))
@@ -674,17 +659,6 @@ func pickLatestQuorumFilesInfo(ctx context.Context, rawFileInfos []RawFileInfo,
 		for i := range errs {
 			if errs[i] == nil {
 				errs[i] = err
-				// An empty quorum merge does not prove absence when this
-				// disk contains a readable object generation. Preserve that
-				// uncertainty instead of hiding it behind FileNotFound.
-				if errors.Is(err, errFileNotFound) && metadataArray[i] != nil {
-					for _, ver := range metadataArray[i].versions {
-						if inclFreeVers || !ver.header.FreeVersion() {
-							errs[i] = errErasureReadQuorum
-							break
-						}
-					}
-				}
 			}
 		}
 		return metaFileInfos, errs
@@ -917,6 +891,7 @@ func (er erasureObjects) getObjectFileInfo(ctx context.Context, bucket, object s
 		}
 	}()
 
+	validResp := 0
 	totalResp := 0
 
 	// minDisks value is only to reduce the number of calls
@@ -949,9 +924,6 @@ func (er erasureObjects) getObjectFileInfo(ctx context.Context, bucket, object s
 		if err != nil {
 			return FileInfo{}, nil, nil, time.Time{}, "", err
 		}
-		if err := checkObjectGenerationQuorum(fi, metaArr, errs); err != nil {
-			return FileInfo{}, nil, nil, time.Time{}, "", err
-		}
 
 		onlineMeta := make([]FileInfo, len(metaArr))
 		for i, disk := range onlineDisks {
@@ -972,8 +944,11 @@ func (er erasureObjects) getObjectFileInfo(ctx context.Context, bucket, object s
 		err         error
 	)
 
-	for range done {
+	for success := range done {
 		totalResp++
+		if success {
+			validResp++
+		}
 
 		if totalResp >= minDisks && opts.FastGetObjInfo {
 			rw.Lock()
@@ -989,21 +964,27 @@ func (er erasureObjects) getObjectFileInfo(ctx context.Context, bucket, object s
 		}
 
 		if totalResp < er.setDriveCount {
-			// A fast quorum may contain only an older generation. Include
-			// slower metadata responses before selecting a readable value.
-			continue
+			if !opts.FastGetObjInfo {
+				continue
+			}
+			if validResp < minDisks {
+				continue
+			}
 		}
 
 		rw.Lock()
 		// when its a versioned bucket and empty versionID - at totalResp == setDriveCount
 		// we must use rawFileInfo to resolve versions to figure out the latest version.
-		if opts.VersionID == "" && totalResp == er.setDriveCount && !uniformLatestVersion(metaArr, errs) {
+		if opts.VersionID == "" && totalResp == er.setDriveCount {
 			fi, onlineMeta, onlineDisks, modTime, etag, err = calcQuorum(pickLatestQuorumFilesInfo(ctx,
 				rawArr, errs, bucket, object, readData, opts.InclFreeVersions))
 		} else {
 			fi, onlineMeta, onlineDisks, modTime, etag, err = calcQuorum(metaArr, errs)
 		}
 		rw.Unlock()
+		if err == nil && (fi.InlineData() || len(fi.Data) > 0) {
+			break
+		}
 	}
 
 	if err != nil {
@@ -1019,6 +1000,16 @@ func (er erasureObjects) getObjectFileInfo(ctx context.Context, bucket, object s
 				}
 			}
 		}
+		// when we have insufficient read quorum and inconsistent metadata return
+		// file not found, since we can't possibly have a way to recover this object
+		// anyway.
+		if v, ok := err.(InsufficientReadQuorum); ok && v.Type == RQInconsistentMeta {
+			if opts.VersionID != "" {
+				err = errFileVersionNotFound
+			} else {
+				err = errFileNotFound
+			}
+		}
 		return fi, nil, nil, toObjectErr(err, bucket, object)
 	}
 
diff --git a/cmd/erasure-read-generation_test.go b/cmd/erasure-read-generation_test.go
index 33cb2b1bd..f65e9a63b 100644
--- a/cmd/erasure-read-generation_test.go
+++ b/cmd/erasure-read-generation_test.go
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+//go:build consistency_strict
+
+// Preserved diagnostic for the deferred strict-read policy. This is not a
+// maintenance release gate; failures record intentionally unresolved risks.
+
 // Copyright (c) 2026 Feng Ruohang
 //
 // This file is part of Silo Object Storage.
diff --git a/cmd/erasure-server-pool-put-conditional_test.go b/cmd/erasure-server-pool-put-conditional_test.go
index 3b7fd91fc..cd4897921 100644
--- a/cmd/erasure-server-pool-put-conditional_test.go
+++ b/cmd/erasure-server-pool-put-conditional_test.go
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ func TestPoolsConditionalPutHTTP(t *testing.T) {
 						opts.MTime = UTCNow().Add(-time.Minute)
 						current := putConsistencyObject(t, z, bucket, object, currentPool, "current", opts)
 						defer conditionalPutPool(t, z, object, target)()
-						idx, _, err := z.getWritePoolIdx(t.Context(), bucket, object, 11, false, true)
+						idx, err := z.getWritePoolIdx(t.Context(), bucket, object, 11, false)
 						if err != nil || idx != target {
 							t.Fatalf("allocation target=%d: idx=%d err=%v", target, idx, err)
 						}
diff --git a/cmd/erasure-server-pool-recovery_test.go b/cmd/erasure-server-pool-recovery_test.go
index bf1159e72..2dde55d1a 100644
--- a/cmd/erasure-server-pool-recovery_test.go
+++ b/cmd/erasure-server-pool-recovery_test.go
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+//go:build consistency_strict
+
+// Preserved diagnostic for the deferred strict-read policy. This is not a
+// maintenance release gate; failures record intentionally unresolved risks.
+
 // Copyright (c) 2026 Feng Ruohang
 //
 // This file is part of Silo Object Storage stack
diff --git a/cmd/erasure-server-pool.go b/cmd/erasure-server-pool.go
index edf48848c..a75af7339 100644
--- a/cmd/erasure-server-pool.go
+++ b/cmd/erasure-server-pool.go
@@ -493,10 +493,6 @@ type poolErrs struct {
 }
 
 func (z *erasureServerPools) getPoolInfoExistingWithOpts(ctx context.Context, bucket, object string, opts ObjectOptions) (PoolObjInfo, []poolErrs, error) {
-	return z.getPoolInfoExisting(ctx, bucket, object, opts, false)
-}
-
-func (z *erasureServerPools) getPoolInfoExisting(ctx context.Context, bucket, object string, opts ObjectOptions, forWrite bool) (PoolObjInfo, []poolErrs, error) {
 	var noReadQuorumPools []poolErrs
 	poolObjInfos := make([]PoolObjInfo, len(z.serverPools))
 	poolOpts := make([]ObjectOptions, len(z.serverPools))
@@ -524,27 +520,6 @@ func (z *erasureServerPools) getPoolInfoExisting(ctx context.Context, bucket, ob
 	}
 	wg.Wait()
 
-	if forWrite && !z.SinglePool() {
-		// Reuse the metadata already read for allocation. A healthy duplicate
-		// must not hide an unreadable pool that will veto the next GET.
-		recovery := -1
-		for i, info := range poolObjInfos {
-			if info.Err == nil || isErrObjectNotFound(info.Err) || isErrVersionNotFound(info.Err) {
-				continue
-			}
-			rq, inconsistent := info.Err.(InsufficientReadQuorum)
-			if !inconsistent || rq.Type != RQInconsistentMeta || recovery >= 0 || z.IsSuspended(i) || z.IsPoolRebalancing(i) {
-				return info, nil, info.Err
-			}
-			recovery = i
-		}
-		if recovery >= 0 {
-			// Repair the sole unreadable copy in place. One write cannot repair
-			// several pools, and draining pools cannot accept recovery writes.
-			return poolObjInfos[recovery], nil, nil
-		}
-	}
-
 	// Sort the objInfos such that we always serve latest
 	// this is a defensive change to handle any duplicate
 	// content that may have been created, we always serve
@@ -661,21 +636,20 @@ func (z *erasureServerPools) getPoolIdxNoLock(ctx context.Context, bucket, objec
 // if none are found falls back to most available space pool, this function is
 // designed to be only used by PutObject, CopyObject (newObject creation) and NewMultipartUpload.
 func (z *erasureServerPools) getPoolIdx(ctx context.Context, bucket, object string, size int64) (idx int, err error) {
-	idx, _, err = z.getWritePoolIdx(ctx, bucket, object, size, false, false)
-	return idx, err
+	return z.getWritePoolIdx(ctx, bucket, object, size, false)
 }
 
 // getWritePoolIdx keeps the write-allocation policy when the caller already
 // holds the pools-layer object lock and must not reacquire a set read lock.
-func (z *erasureServerPools) getWritePoolIdx(ctx context.Context, bucket, object string, size int64, noLock, recoverWrite bool) (idx int, recovery bool, err error) {
-	pinfo, _, err := z.getPoolInfoExisting(ctx, bucket, object, ObjectOptions{
+func (z *erasureServerPools) getWritePoolIdx(ctx context.Context, bucket, object string, size int64, noLock bool) (idx int, err error) {
+	pinfo, _, err := z.getPoolInfoExistingWithOpts(ctx, bucket, object, ObjectOptions{
 		NoLock:             noLock,
 		SkipDecommissioned: true,
 		SkipRebalancing:    true,
-	}, recoverWrite)
+	})
 
 	if err != nil && !isErrObjectNotFound(err) {
-		return -1, false, err
+		return -1, err
 	}
 
 	idx = pinfo.Index
@@ -683,11 +657,11 @@ func (z *erasureServerPools) getWritePoolIdx(ctx context.Context, bucket, object
 		// will generate a temp object
 		idx = z.getAvailablePoolIdx(ctx, bucket, object, size)
 		if idx < 0 {
-			return -1, false, toObjectErr(errDiskFull)
+			return -1, toObjectErr(errDiskFull)
 		}
 	}
 
-	return idx, recoverWrite && isErrReadQuorum(pinfo.Err), nil
+	return idx, nil
 }
 
 func (z *erasureServerPools) Shutdown(ctx context.Context) error {
@@ -1074,17 +1048,6 @@ func (z *erasureServerPools) getLatestObjectInfoWithIdx(ctx context.Context, buc
 	}
 	wg.Wait()
 
-	// An unreadable pool may contain a newer generation. Check every pool
-	// before choosing a readable copy; sorting first would hide errors behind
-	// an older object's nonzero ModTime. Delete markers are resolved metadata
-	// and still participate in the ordering below.
-	for _, res := range results {
-		if res.err != nil && !isErrObjectNotFound(res.err) && !isErrVersionNotFound(res.err) &&
-			(!res.oi.DeleteMarker || !isErrMethodNotAllowed(res.err)) {
-			return res.oi, res.zIdx, res.err
-		}
-	}
-
 	// Sort the objInfos such that we always serve latest
 	// this is a defensive change to handle any duplicate
 	// content that may have been created, we always serve
@@ -1229,8 +1192,7 @@ func (z *erasureServerPools) PutObject(ctx context.Context, bucket string, objec
 		opts.replicaObjectInfo = resolve
 	}
 
-	recoverWrite := !opts.ReplicationRequest && !opts.ReplicaLockReconcile && !opts.DataMovement
-	idx, recovery, err := z.getWritePoolIdx(ctx, bucket, object, data.Size(), true, recoverWrite)
+	idx, err := z.getWritePoolIdx(ctx, bucket, object, data.Size(), true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return ObjectInfo{}, err
 	}
@@ -1253,22 +1215,6 @@ func (z *erasureServerPools) PutObject(ctx context.Context, bucket string, objec
 		opts.replicaObjectInfo = z.replicaObjectInfo
 	}
 	oi, err := z.serverPools[idx].PutObject(ctx, bucket, object, data, opts)
-	if err == nil && recovery {
-		// Only recovery pays for a second read. A partial repair or a new
-		// unreadable pool must not be acknowledged as recovered. Keep any
-		// committed write on failure; a read failure is not permission to undo.
-		var latest ObjectInfo
-		var latestIdx int
-		latest, latestIdx, err = z.getLatestObjectInfoWithIdx(ctx, bucket, object, ObjectOptions{
-			NoLock:           true,
-			NoAuditLog:       true,
-			Versioned:        opts.Versioned,
-			VersionSuspended: opts.VersionSuspended,
-		})
-		if err == nil && (latestIdx != idx || latest.VersionID != oi.VersionID || latest.ETag != oi.ETag || !latest.ModTime.Equal(oi.ModTime)) {
-			err = InsufficientReadQuorum{Bucket: bucket, Object: decodeDirObject(object), Err: errErasureReadQuorum, Type: RQInconsistentMeta}
-		}
-	}
 	if err == nil && opts.ReplicaLockReconcile && !opts.DataMovement {
 		err = z.retireReplicaCopies(ctx, bucket, object, idx, oi)
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/maintenance-read-compatibility_test.go b/cmd/maintenance-read-compatibility_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3c0a27e8e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/maintenance-read-compatibility_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2026 Feng Ruohang
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
+
+package cmd
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"io"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+type compatibilityFailedOverwrite struct {
+	StorageAPI
+	commit bool
+}
+
+func (d compatibilityFailedOverwrite) RenameData(ctx context.Context, sv, sp string, fi FileInfo, dv, dp string, opts RenameOptions) (RenameDataResp, error) {
+	if d.commit {
+		if _, err := d.StorageAPI.RenameData(ctx, sv, sp, fi, dv, dp, opts); err != nil {
+			return RenameDataResp{}, err
+		}
+	}
+	return RenameDataResp{}, errDiskNotFound
+}
+
+// Maintenance compatibility requirement: after a completely joined failed
+// overwrite with one residue, keep the previously acknowledged quorum readable.
+// This tests a known history; it does not claim the resulting snapshot proves it.
+func TestMaintenancePartialFailedOverwriteAvailability(t *testing.T) {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+	dirs, err := getRandomDisks(16)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	obj, _, err := initObjectLayer(ctx, mustGetPoolEndpoints(0, dirs...))
+	if err != nil {
+		removeRoots(dirs)
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	z := obj.(*erasureServerPools)
+	previous := newObjectLayerFn()
+	setObjectLayer(z)
+	defer func() { cancel(); z.Shutdown(context.Background()); removeRoots(dirs); setObjectLayer(previous) }()
+	bucket := "maintenance-compatibility"
+	key := "partial-overwrite"
+	if err := z.MakeBucket(ctx, bucket, MakeBucketOptions{}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	oldBody := bytes.Repeat([]byte("old-A"), 65536)
+	newBody := bytes.Repeat([]byte("new-B"), 65536)
+	put := func(body []byte) error {
+		_, err := z.PutObject(ctx, bucket, key, mustGetPutObjReader(t, bytes.NewReader(body), int64(len(body)), "", ""), ObjectOptions{})
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := put(oldBody); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	set := z.serverPools[0].getHashedSet(key)
+	getDisks := set.getDisks
+	disks := getDisks()
+	wrapped := append([]StorageAPI(nil), disks...)
+	for i, d := range disks {
+		wrapped[i] = compatibilityFailedOverwrite{d, i == 0}
+	}
+	set.getDisks = func() []StorageAPI { return wrapped }
+	err = put(newBody)
+	set.getDisks = getDisks
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("partial overwrite must fail")
+	}
+	t.Logf("Overwrite completed with failure; one new residue, fifteen original shards: %v", err)
+	r, err := z.GetObjectNInfo(ctx, bucket, key, nil, nil, ObjectOptions{})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("MAINTENANCE COMPATIBILITY: previously readable acknowledged value now refused: %v", err)
+	}
+	data, err := io.ReadAll(r)
+	r.Close()
+	if err != nil || !bytes.Equal(data, oldBody) {
+		t.Fatalf("old acknowledged payload mismatch: bytes=%d err=%v", len(data), err)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cmd/metacache-listing-delete-strict_test.go b/cmd/metacache-listing-delete-strict_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1f44a0355
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/metacache-listing-delete-strict_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+//go:build consistency_strict
+
+// Preserved diagnostic for the deferred strict-read policy. This is not a
+// maintenance release gate; failures record intentionally unresolved risks.
+
+// Copyright (c) 2026 Feng Ruohang
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
+
+package cmd
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func TestStrictListFallbackRejectsSplitGenerations(t *testing.T) {
+	z, bucket, _ := nullQuorumBackend(t)
+	set := z.serverPools[0].sets[0]
+	disks := set.getDisks()
+	const object = "object"
+	mtime := time.Now().UTC().Add(-time.Hour)
+	var generations [3][][]byte
+	for generation := range generations {
+		body := bytes.Repeat([]byte{byte('a' + generation)}, 8192)
+		nullQuorumPut(t, z, bucket, object, body, ObjectOptions{MTime: mtime.Add(time.Duration(generation) * time.Minute)})
+		generations[generation] = make([][]byte, len(disks))
+		for i, disk := range disks {
+			generations[generation][i] = mustReadNullQuorumMeta(t, disk, bucket, object)
+		}
+	}
+	// All sixteen drives are online, but the 7/5/4 split leaves no generation
+	// with the eight matching snapshots required by the listing resolver.
+	for i, disk := range disks {
+		generation := 0
+		if i >= 7 {
+			generation = 1
+		}
+		if i >= 12 {
+			generation = 2
+		}
+		if err := disk.WriteAll(t.Context(), bucket, object+"/"+xlStorageFormatFile, generations[generation][i]); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	if _, _, _, err := set.getObjectFileInfo(t.Context(), bucket, object, ObjectOptions{}, false); !isErrReadQuorum(err) {
+		t.Fatalf("split metadata must remain a read-quorum failure: %v", err)
+	}
+	entries := make(metaCacheEntries, len(disks))
+	for i, disk := range disks {
+		entries[i] = metaCacheEntry{name: object, metadata: mustReadNullQuorumMeta(t, disk, bucket, object)}
+		if _, err := entries[i].xlmeta(); err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("drive %d no longer has valid metadata: %v", i, err)
+		}
+	}
+	resolver := metadataResolutionParams{dirQuorum: 8, objQuorum: 8, bucket: bucket, requestedVersions: 1}
+	entry, err := z.resolveListingGroup(t.Context(), bucket, []*metaCacheEntry{set.resolveListEntry(entries, nil, &resolver)})
+	if entry != nil || !isErrReadQuorum(err) {
+		t.Fatalf("split live metadata became absence: entry=%v err=%v", entry, err)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cmd/metacache-listing-delete_test.go b/cmd/metacache-listing-delete_test.go
index 81220c5cc..c59e64844 100644
--- a/cmd/metacache-listing-delete_test.go
+++ b/cmd/metacache-listing-delete_test.go
@@ -115,8 +115,8 @@ func TestListFallbackRejectsSplitGenerations(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
 	}
-	if _, _, _, err := set.getObjectFileInfo(t.Context(), bucket, object, ObjectOptions{}, false); !isErrReadQuorum(err) {
-		t.Fatalf("split metadata must remain a read-quorum failure: %v", err)
+	if _, _, _, err := set.getObjectFileInfo(t.Context(), bucket, object, ObjectOptions{}, false); !isErrObjectNotFound(err) {
+		t.Fatalf("split metadata did not exercise ambiguous not-found: %v", err)
 	}
 	entries := make(metaCacheEntries, len(disks))
 	for i, disk := range disks {
diff --git a/cmd/metacache-null-quorum-strict_test.go b/cmd/metacache-null-quorum-strict_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..91d3f7ba1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/metacache-null-quorum-strict_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+//go:build consistency_strict
+
+// Preserved diagnostic for the deferred strict-read policy. This is not a
+// maintenance release gate; failures record intentionally unresolved risks.
+
+// Copyright (c) 2026 Feng Ruohang
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
+
+package cmd
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	madmin "github.com/minio/madmin-go/v3"
+	"io"
+	"net/http"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"slices"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func TestStrictSingleNullQuorumReadAndConsumers(t *testing.T) {
+	z, bucket, router := nullQuorumBackend(t)
+	set := z.serverPools[0].sets[0]
+	disks := set.getDisks()
+	const object = "object"
+	oldBody, newBody := bytes.Repeat([]byte{'a'}, 8192), bytes.Repeat([]byte{'b'}, 8192)
+	oldTime := time.Now().UTC().Add(-time.Hour)
+	put := func(body []byte, modTime time.Time) {
+		t.Helper()
+		_, err := z.PutObject(t.Context(), bucket, object, mustGetPutObjReader(t, bytes.NewReader(body), int64(len(body)), "", ""), ObjectOptions{MTime: modTime})
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	put(oldBody, oldTime)
+	oldMeta := make([][]byte, len(disks))
+	for i, disk := range disks {
+		var err error
+		oldMeta[i], err = disk.ReadAll(t.Context(), bucket, object+"/"+xlStorageFormatFile)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	put(newBody, oldTime.Add(time.Minute))
+	newMeta := make([][]byte, len(disks))
+	for i, disk := range disks {
+		newMeta[i] = mustReadNullQuorumMeta(t, disk, bucket, object)
+	}
+	// Model an incomplete overwrite using real inline shards: fifteen old
+	// copies retain a read quorum; the final disk contains the newer minority.
+	// The old quorum does not prove that the newer overwrite was uncommitted.
+	for i := range 15 {
+		if err := disks[i].WriteAll(t.Context(), bucket, object+"/"+xlStorageFormatFile, oldMeta[i]); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	checkRead := func(body []byte, modTime time.Time) {
+		t.Helper()
+		get := nullQuorumRequest(t, router, http.MethodGet, getGetObjectURL("", bucket, object))
+		head := nullQuorumRequest(t, router, http.MethodHead, getGetObjectURL("", bucket, object))
+		if get.Code != 200 || !bytes.Equal(get.Body.Bytes(), body) || head.Code != 200 || head.Header().Get("Content-Length") != "8192" {
+			t.Fatalf("GET/HEAD lost readable quorum: GET=%d HEAD=%d body=%q", get.Code, head.Code, get.Body.String())
+		}
+		oi, err := z.GetObjectInfo(t.Context(), bucket, object, ObjectOptions{})
+		if err != nil || !oi.ModTime.Equal(modTime) {
+			t.Fatalf("wrong readable generation: %v, %v", oi.ModTime, err)
+		}
+	}
+	for _, method := range []string{http.MethodGet, http.MethodHead} {
+		rec := nullQuorumRequest(t, router, method, getGetObjectURL("", bucket, object))
+		if rec.Code != http.StatusServiceUnavailable {
+			t.Fatalf("%s exposed an unresolved old quorum: %d", method, rec.Code)
+		}
+	}
+	if _, err := z.HealObject(t.Context(), bucket, object, "", madmin.HealOpts{Remove: true}); !isErrReadQuorum(err) {
+		t.Fatalf("heal accepted an unresolved old quorum: %v", err)
+	}
+	// Reading must not reinterpret the minority as absent or delete it.
+	minority, err := disks[15].ReadVersion(t.Context(), "", bucket, object, "", ReadOptions{})
+	if err != nil || !minority.ModTime.Equal(oldTime.Add(time.Minute)) {
+		t.Fatalf("read mutated the minority: %+v, %v", minority, err)
+	}
+	// Now model the safe direction: the latest generation has the quorum.
+	// Keep the migration, Walk and scanner assertions on that readable state.
+	for i := range 15 {
+		if err := disks[i].WriteAll(t.Context(), bucket, object+"/"+xlStorageFormatFile, newMeta[i]); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	if err := disks[15].WriteAll(t.Context(), bucket, object+"/"+xlStorageFormatFile, oldMeta[15]); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	newTime := oldTime.Add(time.Minute)
+	checkRead(newBody, newTime)
+	for _, kind := range []string{"rebalance", "decommission"} {
+		t.Run(kind, func(t *testing.T) {
+			var names []string
+			consume := func(entry metaCacheEntry) {
+				versions, err := entry.fileInfoVersions(bucket)
+				if err != nil || len(versions.Versions) != 1 || !versions.Versions[0].ModTime.Equal(newTime) {
+					t.Errorf("invalid migration metadata: %+v, %v", versions, err)
+					return
+				}
+				// Migration reopens the selected name/version on all drives;
+				// it must not treat the selected listing metadata as disk agreement.
+				reader, err := set.GetObjectNInfo(t.Context(), bucket, entry.name, nil, nil, ObjectOptions{VersionID: nullVersionID, NoLock: true, NoDecryption: true})
+				if err != nil {
+					t.Error(err)
+					return
+				}
+				body, err := io.ReadAll(reader)
+				reader.Close()
+				if err != nil || !bytes.Equal(body, newBody) {
+					t.Errorf("migration could not read selected object data: %v", err)
+				}
+				names = append(names, entry.name)
+			}
+			var err error
+			if kind == "rebalance" {
+				err = set.listObjectsToRebalance(t.Context(), bucket, consume)
+			} else {
+				err = set.listObjectsToDecommission(t.Context(), decomBucketInfo{Name: bucket}, consume)
+			}
+			if err != nil || !slices.Equal(names, []string{object}) {
+				t.Fatalf("migration listing dropped the quorum: %v, %v", names, err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+	for _, latestOnly := range []bool{false, true} {
+		results := make(chan itemOrErr[ObjectInfo], 16)
+		if err := z.Walk(t.Context(), bucket, "", results, WalkOptions{AskDisks: "strict", LatestOnly: latestOnly}); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		var names []string
+		for result := range results {
+			if result.Err != nil || !result.Item.ModTime.Equal(newTime) {
+				t.Fatalf("Walk returned invalid metadata: %+v", result)
+			}
+			names = append(names, result.Item.Name)
+		}
+		if !slices.Equal(names, []string{object}) {
+			t.Fatalf("Walk dropped the quorum: %v", names)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Exercise the scanner's actual abandoned-child path. Make the scan drive
+	// miss the object, while keeping the latest quorum and an older minority on
+	// the remaining disks. Its queued heal must read all disks and repair both.
+	if err := disks[14].WriteAll(t.Context(), bucket, object+"/"+xlStorageFormatFile, oldMeta[14]); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if err := os.RemoveAll(filepath.Join(disks[15].Endpoint().Path, bucket, object)); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	scanNullQuorumAbandoned(t, z, bucket, object, newTime)
+	for i, disk := range disks {
+		fi, err := disk.ReadVersion(t.Context(), "", bucket, object, "", ReadOptions{Healing: true})
+		if err != nil || !fi.ModTime.Equal(newTime) {
+			t.Fatalf("scanner heal did not reconcile disk %d: %v, %v", i, fi.ModTime, err)
+		}
+	}
+	checkRead(newBody, newTime)
+	put(newBody, oldTime.Add(2*time.Minute))
+	checkRead(newBody, oldTime.Add(2*time.Minute))
+}
diff --git a/cmd/metacache-null-quorum_test.go b/cmd/metacache-null-quorum_test.go
index d6f2d33ef..ee88f0cfa 100644
--- a/cmd/metacache-null-quorum_test.go
+++ b/cmd/metacache-null-quorum_test.go
@@ -701,13 +701,9 @@ func TestSingleNullQuorumReadAndConsumers(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 	put(newBody, oldTime.Add(time.Minute))
-	newMeta := make([][]byte, len(disks))
-	for i, disk := range disks {
-		newMeta[i] = mustReadNullQuorumMeta(t, disk, bucket, object)
-	}
+	newMinorityMeta := mustReadNullQuorumMeta(t, disks[14], bucket, object)
 	// Model an incomplete overwrite using real inline shards: fifteen old
 	// copies retain a read quorum; the final disk contains the newer minority.
-	// The old quorum does not prove that the newer overwrite was uncommitted.
 	for i := range 15 {
 		if err := disks[i].WriteAll(t.Context(), bucket, object+"/"+xlStorageFormatFile, oldMeta[i]); err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
@@ -725,38 +721,18 @@ func TestSingleNullQuorumReadAndConsumers(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatalf("wrong readable generation: %v, %v", oi.ModTime, err)
 		}
 	}
-	for _, method := range []string{http.MethodGet, http.MethodHead} {
-		rec := nullQuorumRequest(t, router, method, getGetObjectURL("", bucket, object))
-		if rec.Code != http.StatusServiceUnavailable {
-			t.Fatalf("%s exposed an unresolved old quorum: %d", method, rec.Code)
-		}
-	}
-	if _, err := z.HealObject(t.Context(), bucket, object, "", madmin.HealOpts{Remove: true}); !isErrReadQuorum(err) {
-		t.Fatalf("heal accepted an unresolved old quorum: %v", err)
-	}
+	checkRead(oldBody, oldTime)
 	// Reading must not reinterpret the minority as absent or delete it.
 	minority, err := disks[15].ReadVersion(t.Context(), "", bucket, object, "", ReadOptions{})
 	if err != nil || !minority.ModTime.Equal(oldTime.Add(time.Minute)) {
 		t.Fatalf("read mutated the minority: %+v, %v", minority, err)
 	}
-	// Now model the safe direction: the latest generation has the quorum.
-	// Keep the migration, Walk and scanner assertions on that readable state.
-	for i := range 15 {
-		if err := disks[i].WriteAll(t.Context(), bucket, object+"/"+xlStorageFormatFile, newMeta[i]); err != nil {
-			t.Fatal(err)
-		}
-	}
-	if err := disks[15].WriteAll(t.Context(), bucket, object+"/"+xlStorageFormatFile, oldMeta[15]); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	newTime := oldTime.Add(time.Minute)
-	checkRead(newBody, newTime)
 	for _, kind := range []string{"rebalance", "decommission"} {
 		t.Run(kind, func(t *testing.T) {
 			var names []string
 			consume := func(entry metaCacheEntry) {
 				versions, err := entry.fileInfoVersions(bucket)
-				if err != nil || len(versions.Versions) != 1 || !versions.Versions[0].ModTime.Equal(newTime) {
+				if err != nil || len(versions.Versions) != 1 || !versions.Versions[0].ModTime.Equal(oldTime) {
 					t.Errorf("invalid migration metadata: %+v, %v", versions, err)
 					return
 				}
@@ -769,7 +745,7 @@ func TestSingleNullQuorumReadAndConsumers(t *testing.T) {
 				}
 				body, err := io.ReadAll(reader)
 				reader.Close()
-				if err != nil || !bytes.Equal(body, newBody) {
+				if err != nil || !bytes.Equal(body, oldBody) {
 					t.Errorf("migration could not read selected object data: %v", err)
 				}
 				names = append(names, entry.name)
@@ -792,7 +768,7 @@ func TestSingleNullQuorumReadAndConsumers(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 		var names []string
 		for result := range results {
-			if result.Err != nil || !result.Item.ModTime.Equal(newTime) {
+			if result.Err != nil || !result.Item.ModTime.Equal(oldTime) {
 				t.Fatalf("Walk returned invalid metadata: %+v", result)
 			}
 			names = append(names, result.Item.Name)
@@ -803,22 +779,22 @@ func TestSingleNullQuorumReadAndConsumers(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// Exercise the scanner's actual abandoned-child path. Make the scan drive
-	// miss the object, while keeping the latest quorum and an older minority on
+	// miss the object, while keeping an older quorum and a newer minority on
 	// the remaining disks. Its queued heal must read all disks and repair both.
-	if err := disks[14].WriteAll(t.Context(), bucket, object+"/"+xlStorageFormatFile, oldMeta[14]); err != nil {
+	if err := disks[14].WriteAll(t.Context(), bucket, object+"/"+xlStorageFormatFile, newMinorityMeta); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	if err := os.RemoveAll(filepath.Join(disks[15].Endpoint().Path, bucket, object)); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	scanNullQuorumAbandoned(t, z, bucket, object, newTime)
+	scanNullQuorumAbandoned(t, z, bucket, object, oldTime)
 	for i, disk := range disks {
 		fi, err := disk.ReadVersion(t.Context(), "", bucket, object, "", ReadOptions{Healing: true})
-		if err != nil || !fi.ModTime.Equal(newTime) {
+		if err != nil || !fi.ModTime.Equal(oldTime) {
 			t.Fatalf("scanner heal did not reconcile disk %d: %v, %v", i, fi.ModTime, err)
 		}
 	}
-	checkRead(newBody, newTime)
+	checkRead(oldBody, oldTime)
 	put(newBody, oldTime.Add(2*time.Minute))
 	checkRead(newBody, oldTime.Add(2*time.Minute))
 }
@@ -914,5 +890,5 @@ func scanNullQuorumAbandoned(t *testing.T, z *erasureServerPools, bucket, object
 	if flat == nil || flat.Objects != 1 || flat.Size != 8192 {
 		t.Fatalf("scanner lost the healed object from usage: %+v", flat)
 	}
-	t.Logf("scanner queued %v; healed latest quorum, repaired minority/missing copies, and retained one 8192-byte object", healed)
+	t.Logf("scanner queued %v; healed old quorum, repaired minority/missing copies, and retained one 8192-byte object", healed)
 }
diff --git a/cmd/object-mutation-consistency_test.go b/cmd/object-mutation-consistency_test.go
index 3c1c121cb..b624965a1 100644
--- a/cmd/object-mutation-consistency_test.go
+++ b/cmd/object-mutation-consistency_test.go
@@ -69,112 +69,6 @@ func mutationPut(t testing.TB, z *erasureServerPools, bucket, obj string, pool i
 	}
 }
 
-// Ordinary successful tag write with one temporarily unavailable drive. No
-// metadata is fabricated. The stale drive returns first on a subsequent GET.
-func TestMutationReadPreservesAcknowledgedTags(t *testing.T) {
-	z, bucket := mutationPools(t)
-	const object = "tag-read"
-	mutationPut(t, z, bucket, object, 0, "payload", time.Now())
-	set := z.serverPools[0].getHashedSet(object)
-	disks, swap := installListingDiskSwitch(set)
-	defer swap(disks)
-	partial := append([]StorageAPI(nil), disks...)
-	partial[0] = nil
-	swap(partial)
-	const tags = "owner=acknowledged-B"
-	if _, err := set.PutObjectTags(t.Context(), bucket, object, tags, ObjectOptions{}); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	swap(disks)
-	before, err := disks[0].ReadVersion(t.Context(), "", bucket, object, "", ReadOptions{})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	after, err := disks[1].ReadVersion(t.Context(), "", bucket, object, "", ReadOptions{})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	t.Logf("old/new tags=%q/%q; equal tuple=%t", before.Metadata[xhttp.AmzObjectTagging], after.Metadata[xhttp.AmzObjectTagging], before.ModTime.Equal(after.ModTime) && before.DataDir == after.DataDir && before.Metadata["etag"] == after.Metadata["etag"])
-	for _, fast := range []bool{false, true} {
-		for _, version := range []string{"", nullVersionID} {
-			oi, err := set.GetObjectInfo(t.Context(), bucket, object, ObjectOptions{FastGetObjInfo: fast, VersionID: version})
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatal(err)
-			}
-			if oi.UserTags != tags {
-				t.Fatalf("acknowledged tags replaced by stale metadata (fast=%t version=%q): %q", fast, version, oi.UserTags)
-			}
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-// A healthy version history must reuse the already decoded latest version.
-// A stale same-version tag copy must still take the full consistency path.
-func TestMutationVersionHistoryRead(t *testing.T) {
-	z, bucket := mutationPools(t)
-	const object = "history-read"
-	set := z.serverPools[0].getHashedSet(object)
-	var versions []string
-	for i := range 12 {
-		id := mustGetUUID()
-		body := "version-" + strconv.Itoa(i)
-		_, err := set.PutObject(t.Context(), bucket, object, mustGetPutObjReader(t, strings.NewReader(body), int64(len(body)), "", ""), ObjectOptions{Versioned: true, VersionID: id})
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatal(err)
-		}
-		versions = append(versions, id)
-	}
-	disks, swap := installListingDiskSwitch(set)
-	defer swap(disks)
-	uniform := func() bool {
-		raw := make([]RawFileInfo, len(disks))
-		meta := make([]FileInfo, len(disks))
-		errs := make([]error, len(disks))
-		for i, disk := range disks {
-			var err error
-			raw[i], err = disk.ReadXL(t.Context(), bucket, object, false)
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatal(err)
-			}
-			meta[i], errs[i] = fileInfoFromRaw(raw[i], bucket, object, false, false)
-		}
-		return uniformLatestVersion(meta, errs)
-	}
-	if !uniform() {
-		t.Fatal("healthy version history requires redundant full metadata decoding")
-	}
-	partial := append([]StorageAPI(nil), disks...)
-	partial[0] = nil
-	swap(partial)
-	const tags = "owner=latest-acknowledged"
-	if _, err := set.PutObjectTags(t.Context(), bucket, object, tags, ObjectOptions{}); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	swap(disks)
-	if uniform() {
-		t.Fatal("stale same-version metadata incorrectly accepted as uniform")
-	}
-	for _, fast := range []bool{false, true} {
-		for _, version := range []string{"", versions[len(versions)-1]} {
-			oi, err := set.GetObjectInfo(t.Context(), bucket, object, ObjectOptions{FastGetObjInfo: fast, VersionID: version})
-			if err != nil || oi.VersionID != versions[len(versions)-1] || oi.UserTags != tags {
-				t.Fatalf("latest version/tags changed: version=%q tags=%q err=%v", oi.VersionID, oi.UserTags, err)
-			}
-		}
-	}
-	for i, id := range versions {
-		r, err := set.GetObjectNInfo(t.Context(), bucket, object, nil, nil, ObjectOptions{VersionID: id})
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatal(err)
-		}
-		body, err := io.ReadAll(r)
-		r.Close()
-		if err != nil || string(body) != "version-"+strconv.Itoa(i) {
-			t.Fatalf("history version %d changed: %q err=%v", i, body, err)
-		}
-	}
-}
-
 type mutationAmbiguousRename struct {
 	StorageAPI
 	index   int
@@ -730,68 +624,6 @@ func (d orderedRenameDisk) RenameData(ctx context.Context, sv, sp string, fi Fil
 	return r, err
 }
 
-func TestMutationCrossDiskOrderHasStableRead(t *testing.T) {
-	z, bucket := mutationPools(t)
-	const object = "cross-disk-order"
-	base := time.Now().Add(-time.Hour)
-	mutationPut(t, z, bucket, object, 0, "initial", base)
-	set := z.serverPools[0].getHashedSet(object)
-	disks, swap := installListingDiskSwitch(set)
-	defer swap(disks)
-	earlyDone, release := make(chan struct{}, 4), make(chan struct{})
-	var once sync.Once
-	unblock := func() { once.Do(func() { close(release) }) }
-	defer unblock()
-	aDisks := append([]StorageAPI(nil), disks...)
-	for i, d := range disks {
-		aDisks[i] = orderedRenameDisk{d, i < 4, earlyDone, release}
-	}
-	swap(aDisks)
-	put := func(body string, mtime time.Time) error {
-		_, e := z.serverPools[0].PutObject(t.Context(), bucket, object,
-			mustGetPutObjReader(t, strings.NewReader(body), int64(len(body)), "", ""),
-			ObjectOptions{NoLock: true, MTime: mtime})
-		return e
-	}
-	aDone := make(chan error, 1)
-	go func() { aDone <- put("writer-A", base.Add(time.Minute)) }()
-	for range 4 {
-		select {
-		case <-earlyDone:
-		case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
-			t.Fatal("A did not reach first-half barrier")
-		}
-	}
-	swap(disks)
-	if err := put("writer-B", base.Add(2*time.Minute)); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("B failed: %v", err)
-	}
-	unblock()
-	select {
-	case err := <-aDone:
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("A failed: %v", err)
-		}
-	case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
-		t.Fatal("A did not finish")
-	}
-	t.Log("both PUTs succeeded; final per-disk order is A→B on four disks and B→A on four disks; no writer remains")
-	swap(disks)
-	for range 8 {
-		for _, version := range []string{"", nullVersionID} {
-			r, err := z.GetObjectNInfo(t.Context(), bucket, object, nil, nil, ObjectOptions{FastGetObjInfo: true, VersionID: version})
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatalf("quiescent successful writes became unreadable: %v", err)
-			}
-			body, err := io.ReadAll(r)
-			r.Close()
-			if err != nil || string(body) != "writer-B" {
-				t.Fatalf("completed reads changed value: %q %v", body, err)
-			}
-		}
-	}
-}
-
 // Partial no-op updates may revoke undo on only some disks. That internal
 // capability must not split the quorum of otherwise identical object contents.
 func TestMutationPartialNoopPreservesReadability(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/cmd/object-mutation-late-commit_test.go b/cmd/object-mutation-late-commit_test.go
index 1ab20f24f..62f2f2a48 100644
--- a/cmd/object-mutation-late-commit_test.go
+++ b/cmd/object-mutation-late-commit_test.go
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+//go:build consistency_strict
+
+// Preserved diagnostic for the deferred strict-read policy. This is not a
+// maintenance release gate; failures record intentionally unresolved risks.
+
 // Copyright (c) 2026 Feng Ruohang
 //
 // This file is part of Silo Object Storage.
diff --git a/cmd/object-mutation-read-strict_test.go b/cmd/object-mutation-read-strict_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..df47e4f72
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/object-mutation-read-strict_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,198 @@
+//go:build consistency_strict
+
+// Preserved diagnostic for the deferred strict-read policy. This is not a
+// maintenance release gate; failures record intentionally unresolved risks.
+
+// Copyright (c) 2026 Feng Ruohang
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
+
+package cmd
+
+import (
+	xhttp "github.com/minio/minio/internal/http"
+	"io"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func TestMutationReadPreservesAcknowledgedTags(t *testing.T) {
+	z, bucket := mutationPools(t)
+	const object = "tag-read"
+	mutationPut(t, z, bucket, object, 0, "payload", time.Now())
+	set := z.serverPools[0].getHashedSet(object)
+	disks, swap := installListingDiskSwitch(set)
+	defer swap(disks)
+	partial := append([]StorageAPI(nil), disks...)
+	partial[0] = nil
+	swap(partial)
+	const tags = "owner=acknowledged-B"
+	if _, err := set.PutObjectTags(t.Context(), bucket, object, tags, ObjectOptions{}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	swap(disks)
+	before, err := disks[0].ReadVersion(t.Context(), "", bucket, object, "", ReadOptions{})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	after, err := disks[1].ReadVersion(t.Context(), "", bucket, object, "", ReadOptions{})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	t.Logf("old/new tags=%q/%q; equal tuple=%t", before.Metadata[xhttp.AmzObjectTagging], after.Metadata[xhttp.AmzObjectTagging], before.ModTime.Equal(after.ModTime) && before.DataDir == after.DataDir && before.Metadata["etag"] == after.Metadata["etag"])
+	for _, fast := range []bool{false, true} {
+		for _, version := range []string{"", nullVersionID} {
+			oi, err := set.GetObjectInfo(t.Context(), bucket, object, ObjectOptions{FastGetObjInfo: fast, VersionID: version})
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			if oi.UserTags != tags {
+				t.Fatalf("acknowledged tags replaced by stale metadata (fast=%t version=%q): %q", fast, version, oi.UserTags)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMutationVersionHistoryRead(t *testing.T) {
+	z, bucket := mutationPools(t)
+	const object = "history-read"
+	set := z.serverPools[0].getHashedSet(object)
+	var versions []string
+	for i := range 12 {
+		id := mustGetUUID()
+		body := "version-" + strconv.Itoa(i)
+		_, err := set.PutObject(t.Context(), bucket, object, mustGetPutObjReader(t, strings.NewReader(body), int64(len(body)), "", ""), ObjectOptions{Versioned: true, VersionID: id})
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		versions = append(versions, id)
+	}
+	disks, swap := installListingDiskSwitch(set)
+	defer swap(disks)
+	uniform := func() bool {
+		raw := make([]RawFileInfo, len(disks))
+		meta := make([]FileInfo, len(disks))
+		errs := make([]error, len(disks))
+		for i, disk := range disks {
+			var err error
+			raw[i], err = disk.ReadXL(t.Context(), bucket, object, false)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			meta[i], errs[i] = fileInfoFromRaw(raw[i], bucket, object, false, false)
+		}
+		return uniformLatestVersion(meta, errs)
+	}
+	if !uniform() {
+		t.Fatal("healthy version history requires redundant full metadata decoding")
+	}
+	partial := append([]StorageAPI(nil), disks...)
+	partial[0] = nil
+	swap(partial)
+	const tags = "owner=latest-acknowledged"
+	if _, err := set.PutObjectTags(t.Context(), bucket, object, tags, ObjectOptions{}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	swap(disks)
+	if uniform() {
+		t.Fatal("stale same-version metadata incorrectly accepted as uniform")
+	}
+	for _, fast := range []bool{false, true} {
+		for _, version := range []string{"", versions[len(versions)-1]} {
+			oi, err := set.GetObjectInfo(t.Context(), bucket, object, ObjectOptions{FastGetObjInfo: fast, VersionID: version})
+			if err != nil || oi.VersionID != versions[len(versions)-1] || oi.UserTags != tags {
+				t.Fatalf("latest version/tags changed: version=%q tags=%q err=%v", oi.VersionID, oi.UserTags, err)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	for i, id := range versions {
+		r, err := set.GetObjectNInfo(t.Context(), bucket, object, nil, nil, ObjectOptions{VersionID: id})
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		body, err := io.ReadAll(r)
+		r.Close()
+		if err != nil || string(body) != "version-"+strconv.Itoa(i) {
+			t.Fatalf("history version %d changed: %q err=%v", i, body, err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestMutationCrossDiskOrderHasStableRead(t *testing.T) {
+	z, bucket := mutationPools(t)
+	const object = "cross-disk-order"
+	base := time.Now().Add(-time.Hour)
+	mutationPut(t, z, bucket, object, 0, "initial", base)
+	set := z.serverPools[0].getHashedSet(object)
+	disks, swap := installListingDiskSwitch(set)
+	defer swap(disks)
+	earlyDone, release := make(chan struct{}, 4), make(chan struct{})
+	var once sync.Once
+	unblock := func() { once.Do(func() { close(release) }) }
+	defer unblock()
+	aDisks := append([]StorageAPI(nil), disks...)
+	for i, d := range disks {
+		aDisks[i] = orderedRenameDisk{d, i < 4, earlyDone, release}
+	}
+	swap(aDisks)
+	put := func(body string, mtime time.Time) error {
+		_, e := z.serverPools[0].PutObject(t.Context(), bucket, object,
+			mustGetPutObjReader(t, strings.NewReader(body), int64(len(body)), "", ""),
+			ObjectOptions{NoLock: true, MTime: mtime})
+		return e
+	}
+	aDone := make(chan error, 1)
+	go func() { aDone <- put("writer-A", base.Add(time.Minute)) }()
+	for range 4 {
+		select {
+		case <-earlyDone:
+		case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
+			t.Fatal("A did not reach first-half barrier")
+		}
+	}
+	swap(disks)
+	if err := put("writer-B", base.Add(2*time.Minute)); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("B failed: %v", err)
+	}
+	unblock()
+	select {
+	case err := <-aDone:
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("A failed: %v", err)
+		}
+	case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("A did not finish")
+	}
+	t.Log("both PUTs succeeded; final per-disk order is A→B on four disks and B→A on four disks; no writer remains")
+	swap(disks)
+	for range 8 {
+		for _, version := range []string{"", nullVersionID} {
+			r, err := z.GetObjectNInfo(t.Context(), bucket, object, nil, nil, ObjectOptions{FastGetObjInfo: true, VersionID: version})
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("quiescent successful writes became unreadable: %v", err)
+			}
+			body, err := io.ReadAll(r)
+			r.Close()
+			if err != nil || string(body) != "writer-B" {
+				t.Fatalf("completed reads changed value: %q %v", body, err)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func uniformLatestVersion(meta []FileInfo, errs []error) bool {
+	if len(meta) == 0 {
+		return false
+	}
+	first := meta[0]
+	for i, fi := range meta {
+		if errs[i] != nil || !fi.IsValid() || fi.XLV1 || fi.Deleted || !fi.IsLatest || fi.NumVersions < 1 ||
+			!fi.ModTime.Equal(first.ModTime) || !sameFileInfoVersion(first, fi) ||
+			fi.NumVersions != first.NumVersions || !fi.SuccessorModTime.Equal(first.SuccessorModTime) {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
diff --git a/cmd/object-mutation.go b/cmd/object-mutation.go
index be187d8be..788ebcdc6 100644
--- a/cmd/object-mutation.go
+++ b/cmd/object-mutation.go
@@ -193,23 +193,3 @@ func (s *xlStorage) undoWrite(ctx context.Context, volume, path string, fi FileI
 	}
 	return nil
 }
-
-// All drives have replied, and fileInfoFromRaw has already validated each raw
-// buffer and selected its latest visible version. Reuse that decoded state:
-// revalidating the raw history here adds work proportional to version count.
-// Any missing response, logical disagreement, or history-property disagreement
-// retains the full merge. Legacy objects and delete markers also use that path.
-func uniformLatestVersion(meta []FileInfo, errs []error) bool {
-	if len(meta) == 0 {
-		return false
-	}
-	first := meta[0]
-	for i, fi := range meta {
-		if errs[i] != nil || !fi.IsValid() || fi.XLV1 || fi.Deleted || !fi.IsLatest || fi.NumVersions < 1 ||
-			!fi.ModTime.Equal(first.ModTime) || !sameFileInfoVersion(first, fi) ||
-			fi.NumVersions != first.NumVersions || !fi.SuccessorModTime.Equal(first.SuccessorModTime) {
-			return false
-		}
-	}
-	return true
-}