diff --git a/docs/config.md b/docs/config.md
index 511837c..03ae332 100644
--- a/docs/config.md
+++ b/docs/config.md
@@ -941,6 +941,9 @@ own strict mapping scope, with helpers before the bodies that import them. Those
 local scopes do not use application collection policies and are not flattened into
 the outer schedule. Item positions and diagnostic paths follow the resulting
 assembly order.
+Each underlay group likewise acquires its inputs before dependency-ready assembly
+in one strict scope. Independent groups remain separate precedence tiers; a higher
+tier still replaces a lower tier's sequence values wholesale.
 Assembly order never permits replacement. Required missing paths fail; `optional:
 true` suppresses only target nonexistence, not invalid paths, containment failures,
 directories, permissions, parse errors, or composition errors.
diff --git a/internal/engine/import_graph.go b/internal/engine/import_graph.go
index f87a8a1..9922d0f 100644
--- a/internal/engine/import_graph.go
+++ b/internal/engine/import_graph.go
@@ -89,6 +89,15 @@ func (graph importInclusionGraph) clone() importInclusionGraph {
 	return cloned
 }
 
+func mergeImportInclusionGraph(target *importInclusionGraph, source importInclusionGraph) {
+	for _, node := range source.nodes {
+		target.addNode(node)
+	}
+	for _, edge := range source.edges {
+		target.addEdge(edge.importer, edge.imported, edge.location)
+	}
+}
+
 func (graph importInclusionGraph) scheduleCycle(closingEdge int, location Location) (Diagnostic, bool) {
 	keys := make([]dependencyKey, len(graph.nodes))
 	for index, node := range graph.nodes {
@@ -149,21 +158,41 @@ func (graph importInclusionGraph) scheduleCycle(closingEdge int, location Locati
 }
 
 func scheduleAcquisitionScope(scope acquisitionScope, graph importInclusionGraph) acquisitionScope {
-	positions := make(map[importNodeKey]int, len(scope.contributions))
 	slots := make([]int, 0, len(scope.contributions))
-	keys := make([]dependencyKey, 0, len(scope.contributions))
 	for index, contribution := range scope.contributions {
 		if contribution.scopeOwner != scope.owner {
 			continue
 		}
-		positions[contribution.identity] = len(keys)
 		slots = append(slots, index)
-		keys = append(keys, contribution.identity.dependencyKey())
-	}
-	if len(keys) < 2 {
-		return scope
 	}
+	scheduled := scope
+	scheduled.contributions = scheduleContributionSlots(scope.contributions, slots, graph)
+	return scheduled
+}
 
+func scheduleAcquisitionGroup(scopes []acquisitionScope, graph importInclusionGraph) acquisitionScope {
+	var contributions []acquiredContribution
+	for _, scope := range scopes {
+		contributions = append(contributions, scope.contributions...)
+	}
+	slots := make([]int, len(contributions))
+	for index := range slots {
+		slots[index] = index
+	}
+	return acquisitionScope{contributions: scheduleContributionSlots(contributions, slots, graph)}
+}
+
+func scheduleContributionSlots(contributions []acquiredContribution, slots []int, graph importInclusionGraph) []acquiredContribution {
+	if len(slots) < 2 {
+		return append([]acquiredContribution(nil), contributions...)
+	}
+	positions := make(map[importNodeKey]int, len(slots))
+	keys := make([]dependencyKey, len(slots))
+	for position, slot := range slots {
+		contribution := contributions[slot]
+		positions[contribution.identity] = position
+		keys[position] = contribution.identity.dependencyKey()
+	}
 	edges := make([]dependencyEdge, 0, len(graph.edges))
 	for _, edge := range graph.edges {
 		importer, importerOK := positions[edge.importer]
@@ -174,16 +203,86 @@ func scheduleAcquisitionScope(scope acquisitionScope, graph importInclusionGraph
 	}
 	order, _ := scheduleDependencies(keys, edges)
 	if len(order) != len(keys) {
-		return scope
+		return append([]acquiredContribution(nil), contributions...)
 	}
-	scheduled := scope
-	scheduled.contributions = append([]acquiredContribution(nil), scope.contributions...)
+	scheduled := append([]acquiredContribution(nil), contributions...)
 	for position, scheduledIndex := range order {
-		scheduled.contributions[slots[position]] = scope.contributions[slots[scheduledIndex]]
+		scheduled[slots[position]] = contributions[slots[scheduledIndex]]
 	}
 	return scheduled
 }
 
+type importNamespaceAnchors struct {
+	kind   string
+	host   string
+	native string
+	input  string
+}
+
+func explicitNamespaceAnchor(group, input int) string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%020d/%020d", group, input)
+}
+
+func reanchorImportKey(key importNodeKey, anchors importNamespaceAnchors) importNodeKey {
+	if anchors.kind != "" {
+		key.namespaceKind = anchors.kind
+	}
+	switch {
+	case key.resourceKind == "synthetic":
+		key.namespaceAnchor = anchors.input
+	case key.namespaceKind == "native":
+		key.namespaceAnchor = anchors.native
+	default:
+		key.namespaceAnchor = anchors.host
+	}
+	return key
+}
+
+func reanchorImportGraph(graph importInclusionGraph, anchors importNamespaceAnchors) (importInclusionGraph, map[importNodeKey]importNodeKey) {
+	reanchored := newImportInclusionGraph()
+	keys := make(map[importNodeKey]importNodeKey, len(graph.nodes))
+	for _, node := range graph.nodes {
+		old := node.key
+		node.key = reanchorImportKey(old, anchors)
+		keys[old] = node.key
+		reanchored.addNode(node)
+	}
+	for _, edge := range graph.edges {
+		reanchored.addEdge(keys[edge.importer], keys[edge.imported], edge.location)
+	}
+	return reanchored, keys
+}
+
+func reanchorAcquisitionScope(scope *acquisitionScope, keys map[importNodeKey]importNodeKey, anchors importNamespaceAnchors) {
+	if scope == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	if key, exists := keys[scope.owner]; exists {
+		scope.owner = key
+	} else {
+		scope.owner = reanchorImportKey(scope.owner, anchors)
+	}
+	for index := range scope.contributions {
+		contribution := &scope.contributions[index]
+		if key, exists := keys[contribution.identity]; exists {
+			contribution.identity = key
+		} else {
+			contribution.identity = reanchorImportKey(contribution.identity, anchors)
+		}
+		if key, exists := keys[contribution.scopeOwner]; exists {
+			contribution.scopeOwner = key
+		} else {
+			contribution.scopeOwner = reanchorImportKey(contribution.scopeOwner, anchors)
+		}
+		reanchorAcquisitionScope(contribution.pendingItem, keys, anchors)
+		if contribution.nested != nil {
+			for nestedIndex := range contribution.nested.acquisition {
+				reanchorAcquisitionScope(&contribution.nested.acquisition[nestedIndex], keys, anchors)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func importKeyFor(access *filesystemAccess, canonical string, synthetic bool) importNodeKey {
 	kind := "host"
 	resourceKind := "file"
diff --git a/internal/engine/imports.go b/internal/engine/imports.go
index f7c6299..33e0472 100644
--- a/internal/engine/imports.go
+++ b/internal/engine/imports.go
@@ -80,12 +80,16 @@ func loadImportedDocumentsTrackedWithVersion(source Source, context *FilesystemC
 }
 
 func loadImportedDocumentsTrackedWithProcessing(source Source, context *FilesystemContext, main parsedSource, destination Path, rule *VersionRule, limits importLimits, accounting *importAccounting, visited map[resourceIdentity]importRoute, hostToken *namespaceToken, versionState *sourceVersionState, processing *sourceVersionProcessingResult, policy sequencePolicy) (*composedDocument, []SourceInfo, []Diagnostic) {
+	return loadImportedDocumentsTrackedWithProcessingDeferred(source, context, main, destination, rule, limits, accounting, visited, hostToken, versionState, processing, policy, false)
+}
+
+func loadImportedDocumentsTrackedWithProcessingDeferred(source Source, context *FilesystemContext, main parsedSource, destination Path, rule *VersionRule, limits importLimits, accounting *importAccounting, visited map[resourceIdentity]importRoute, hostToken *namespaceToken, versionState *sourceVersionState, processing *sourceVersionProcessingResult, policy sequencePolicy, deferAssembly bool) (*composedDocument, []SourceInfo, []Diagnostic) {
 	if nativeContext(source, context) {
 		access, basePath, mainPath, diagnostic := nativeFilesystemAccess(source, context)
 		if diagnostic != nil {
 			return nil, sourceInfos(main.source), []Diagnostic{*diagnostic}
 		}
-		return loadImportedWithAccessTrackedAndProcessingPolicy(access, basePath, mainPath, main, destination, rule, limits, accounting, visited, versionState, processing, policy)
+		return loadImportedWithAccessTrackedAndProcessingPolicyDeferred(access, basePath, mainPath, main, destination, rule, limits, accounting, visited, versionState, processing, policy, deferAssembly)
 	}
 	rootPath, basePath, mainPath, diagnostic := importFilesystem(source, context, main)
 	if diagnostic != nil {
@@ -100,7 +104,7 @@ func loadImportedDocumentsTrackedWithProcessing(source Source, context *Filesyst
 	if hostToken != nil {
 		access.token = hostToken
 	}
-	return loadImportedWithAccessTrackedAndProcessingPolicy(access, basePath, mainPath, main, destination, rule, limits, accounting, visited, versionState, processing, policy)
+	return loadImportedWithAccessTrackedAndProcessingPolicyDeferred(access, basePath, mainPath, main, destination, rule, limits, accounting, visited, versionState, processing, policy, deferAssembly)
 }
 
 func loadImportedWithAccess(access *filesystemAccess, basePath, mainPath string, main parsedSource, rule *VersionRule, limits importLimits, accounting *importAccounting) (*composedDocument, []SourceInfo, []Diagnostic) {
@@ -124,6 +128,10 @@ func loadImportedWithAccessTrackedAndProcessing(access *filesystemAccess, basePa
 }
 
 func loadImportedWithAccessTrackedAndProcessingPolicy(access *filesystemAccess, basePath, mainPath string, main parsedSource, destination Path, rule *VersionRule, limits importLimits, accounting *importAccounting, visited map[resourceIdentity]importRoute, versionState *sourceVersionState, processing *sourceVersionProcessingResult, policy sequencePolicy) (*composedDocument, []SourceInfo, []Diagnostic) {
+	return loadImportedWithAccessTrackedAndProcessingPolicyDeferred(access, basePath, mainPath, main, destination, rule, limits, accounting, visited, versionState, processing, policy, false)
+}
+
+func loadImportedWithAccessTrackedAndProcessingPolicyDeferred(access *filesystemAccess, basePath, mainPath string, main parsedSource, destination Path, rule *VersionRule, limits importLimits, accounting *importAccounting, visited map[resourceIdentity]importRoute, versionState *sourceVersionState, processing *sourceVersionProcessingResult, policy sequencePolicy, deferAssembly bool) (*composedDocument, []SourceInfo, []Diagnostic) {
 	if !access.contains(basePath) || (mainPath != "" && !access.contains(mainPath)) {
 		_ = access.close()
 		return nil, sourceInfos(main.source), []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeImportOutsideRoot, "selected source and import base must stay inside the configuration root", nil)}
@@ -221,7 +229,9 @@ func loadImportedWithAccessTrackedAndProcessingPolicy(access *filesystemAccess,
 	}
 	if len(diagnostics) == 0 {
 		state.scheduleAcquisitionScopes(&state.scope)
-		diagnostics = state.composePendingItems(&state.scope)
+		if !deferAssembly {
+			diagnostics = state.composePendingItems(&state.scope)
+		}
 	}
 
 	closeErr := access.close()
@@ -234,6 +244,27 @@ func loadImportedWithAccessTrackedAndProcessingPolicy(access *filesystemAccess,
 	if closeErr != nil {
 		return nil, cloneSourceInfos(state.sources), []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeImportRead, "configuration root could not be closed", nil)}
 	}
+	if deferAssembly {
+		acquisition := state.scope
+		if mainIsItem {
+			localScope := state.scope
+			acquisition = acquisitionScope{
+				owner: mainNodeKey, destination: destination.clone(),
+				contributions: []acquiredContribution{{
+					source: cloneSourceInfo(mainInfo), payload: body, identity: mainNodeKey,
+					role: importRoleMain, scopeOwner: mainNodeKey, destination: destination.clone(),
+					processing: processing, pendingItem: &localScope,
+				}},
+			}
+		}
+		if diagnostic := reservePendingItemPlacements(&acquisition, limits, accounting); diagnostic != nil {
+			return nil, cloneSourceInfos(state.sources), []Diagnostic{*diagnostic}
+		}
+		return &composedDocument{
+			acquisition: []acquisitionScope{cloneAcquisitionScope(acquisition)},
+			importGraph: state.importGraph.clone(), inputBytes: accounting.bytes, inputNodes: accounting.nodes,
+		}, cloneSourceInfos(state.sources), nil
+	}
 	if mainIsItem {
 		localScope := state.scope
 		documents := make([]*document.Node, 0, len(localScope.contributions))
@@ -313,6 +344,29 @@ func loadImportedWithAccessTrackedAndProcessingPolicy(access *filesystemAccess,
 	return composed, cloneSourceInfos(state.sources), diagnostics
 }
 
+func reservePendingItemPlacements(scope *acquisitionScope, limits importLimits, accounting *importAccounting) *Diagnostic {
+	if scope == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	for index := range scope.contributions {
+		contribution := &scope.contributions[index]
+		if contribution.pendingItem == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		placementNodes := destinationWrapperNodeCountForMode(contribution.destination, placementModeSequenceItem)
+		if accounting.nodes+placementNodes > limits.nodes {
+			diagnostic := importDiagnostic(CodeImportLimitExceeded, "configuration exceeds the aggregate node limit", contribution.source.ImportedFrom)
+			return &diagnostic
+		}
+		accounting.nodes += placementNodes
+		contribution.placementCharged = true
+		if diagnostic := reservePendingItemPlacements(contribution.pendingItem, limits, accounting); diagnostic != nil {
+			return diagnostic
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (s *importTraversal) checkInitialLimits() *Diagnostic {
 	if s.accounting.sources > s.limits.sources {
 		value := importDiagnostic(CodeImportLimitExceeded, "configuration exceeds the source-count limit", nil)
@@ -609,6 +663,9 @@ func (s *importTraversal) composePendingItems(scope *acquisitionScope) []Diagnos
 		if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
 			return projectItemDiagnosticPaths(diagnostics, *scope, contribution.destination, index)
 		}
+		if diagnostic := importedVersionClaim(documents, *itemScope, completed, s.rule); diagnostic != nil {
+			return []Diagnostic{*diagnostic}
+		}
 		completed.acquisition = []acquisitionScope{cloneAcquisitionScope(*itemScope)}
 		projectNestedEvidence(completed, *itemScope)
 		_, placed, err := placeDocumentWithMode(completed.root, contribution.destination, placementModeSequenceItem, contribution.payload.Location, maxDocumentDepth, maxDocumentNodes)
@@ -616,10 +673,12 @@ func (s *importTraversal) composePendingItems(scope *acquisitionScope) []Diagnos
 			return []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeImportLimitExceeded, "configuration exceeds the source depth or node limit after destination placement", contribution.source.ImportedFrom)}
 		}
 		placementNodes := destinationWrapperNodeCountForMode(contribution.destination, placementModeSequenceItem)
-		if s.accounting.nodes+placementNodes > s.limits.nodes {
-			return []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeImportLimitExceeded, "configuration exceeds the aggregate node limit", contribution.source.ImportedFrom)}
+		if !contribution.placementCharged {
+			if s.accounting.nodes+placementNodes > s.limits.nodes {
+				return []Diagnostic{importDiagnostic(CodeImportLimitExceeded, "configuration exceeds the aggregate node limit", contribution.source.ImportedFrom)}
+			}
+			s.accounting.nodes += placementNodes
 		}
-		s.accounting.nodes += placementNodes
 		contribution.payload = completed.root
 		contribution.document = placed
 		contribution.nested = completed
diff --git a/internal/engine/load.go b/internal/engine/load.go
index a74f173..f96b065 100644
--- a/internal/engine/load.go
+++ b/internal/engine/load.go
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ type Options[T any] struct {
 	destination       Path
 	placementMode     placementMode
 	sequencePolicy    sequencePolicy
+	deferAssembly     bool
 }
 
 // FilesystemContext supplies filesystem roots for imports and overlays.
diff --git a/internal/engine/load_input.go b/internal/engine/load_input.go
index dfb38a7..9054cd7 100644
--- a/internal/engine/load_input.go
+++ b/internal/engine/load_input.go
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ type acquiredContribution struct {
 	processing          *sourceVersionProcessingResult
 	nested              *composedDocument
 	pendingItem         *acquisitionScope
+	placementCharged    bool
 }
 
 // acquisitionScope is the ordered strict mapping scope produced by one input
@@ -54,6 +55,7 @@ func cloneAcquisitionScope(scope acquisitionScope) acquisitionScope {
 				document: contribution.document, destination: contribution.destination.clone(),
 				relativeDestination: contribution.relativeDestination.clone(), processing: contribution.processing,
 				nested: cloneComposedDocument(contribution.nested), pendingItem: cloneAcquisitionScopePointer(contribution.pendingItem),
+				placementCharged: contribution.placementCharged,
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -135,12 +137,18 @@ func assembleBaseInputTrackedForRole[T any](source Source, options Options[T], d
 		}
 	}
 	if options.Imports {
-		input.composition, input.sources, diagnostics = loadImportedDocumentsTrackedWithProcessing(source, options.Filesystem, parsed, destination, options.Definition.Version, limits, accounting, visited, hostToken, versionState, versionProcessing, options.sequencePolicy)
+		if options.deferAssembly {
+			input.composition, input.sources, diagnostics = loadImportedDocumentsTrackedWithProcessingDeferred(source, options.Filesystem, parsed, destination, options.Definition.Version, limits, accounting, visited, hostToken, versionState, versionProcessing, options.sequencePolicy, true)
+		} else {
+			input.composition, input.sources, diagnostics = loadImportedDocumentsTrackedWithProcessing(source, options.Filesystem, parsed, destination, options.Definition.Version, limits, accounting, visited, hostToken, versionState, versionProcessing, options.sequencePolicy)
+		}
 		if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
 			return input, diagnostics
 		}
-		input.acquisition = cloneAcquisitionScopes(input.composition.acquisition)
-		input.document = input.composition.root
+		if input.composition != nil {
+			input.acquisition = cloneAcquisitionScopes(input.composition.acquisition)
+			input.document = input.composition.root
+		}
 	} else {
 		input.sources = sourceInfos(parsed.source)
 		if versionProcessing != nil {
diff --git a/internal/engine/load_request.go b/internal/engine/load_request.go
index 31f91bf..df1a12e 100644
--- a/internal/engine/load_request.go
+++ b/internal/engine/load_request.go
@@ -158,14 +158,23 @@ func acquireUnderlayGroupWithPolicyVersion(group loadGroup, index int, rule *Ver
 	initialBytes, initialNodes := accounting.bytes, accounting.nodes
 	visited := make(map[resourceIdentity]importRoute)
 	hostToken := &namespaceToken{}
+	nativeAnchors := make(map[*namespaceToken]string)
+	for inputIndex, contribution := range group.inputs {
+		if token := nativeTokenForLoadInput(contribution); token != nil {
+			if _, exists := nativeAnchors[token]; !exists {
+				nativeAnchors[token] = explicitNamespaceAnchor(index, inputIndex+1)
+			}
+		}
+	}
 	var scopes []acquisitionScope
+	inclusionGraph := newImportInclusionGraph()
 	var sources []SourceInfo
 	var contexts map[string]ResourceContext
-	for _, contribution := range group.inputs {
+	for inputIndex, contribution := range group.inputs {
 		options := Options[struct{}]{
 			Imports: contribution.imports, Filesystem: contribution.filesystem,
 			Definition: Definition[struct{}]{Version: rule}, destination: contribution.destination.clone(),
-			placementMode: contribution.placementMode, sequencePolicy: policy,
+			placementMode: contribution.placementMode, sequencePolicy: policy, deferAssembly: true,
 		}
 		acquired, diagnostics := assembleBaseInputTrackedForRole(contribution.source, options, contribution.destination, accounting, visited, hostToken, versionState, sourceVersionContribution)
 		for _, source := range acquired.sources {
@@ -177,16 +186,37 @@ func acquireUnderlayGroupWithPolicyVersion(group loadGroup, index int, rule *Ver
 		if len(diagnostics) != 0 {
 			return nil, sources, contexts, projectPriorInputDiagnosticPaths(diagnostics, scopes)
 		}
-		if acquired.document == nil {
+		if acquired.document == nil && len(acquired.acquisition) == 0 {
 			continue
 		}
-		scopes = append(scopes, cloneAcquisitionScopes(acquired.acquisition)...)
+		anchors := importNamespaceAnchors{
+			kind: "host", host: explicitNamespaceAnchor(index, 0),
+			input: explicitNamespaceAnchor(index, inputIndex+1),
+		}
+		if token := nativeTokenForLoadInput(contribution); token != nil {
+			anchors.kind = "native"
+			anchors.native = nativeAnchors[token]
+		}
+		inputScopes := cloneAcquisitionScopes(acquired.acquisition)
+		inputGraph := newImportInclusionGraph()
+		if acquired.composition != nil {
+			inputGraph = acquired.composition.importGraph
+		}
+		inputGraph, keyMap := reanchorImportGraph(inputGraph, anchors)
+		for scopeIndex := range inputScopes {
+			reanchorAcquisitionScope(&inputScopes[scopeIndex], keyMap, anchors)
+		}
+		scopes = append(scopes, inputScopes...)
+		mergeImportInclusionGraph(&inclusionGraph, inputGraph)
+	}
+	groupScope := scheduleAcquisitionGroup(scopes, inclusionGraph)
+	traversal := importTraversal{accounting: accounting, limits: defaultImportLimits(), rule: rule, importGraph: inclusionGraph}
+	if diagnostics := traversal.composePendingItems(&groupScope); len(diagnostics) != 0 {
+		return nil, sources, contexts, diagnostics
 	}
 	var documents []*document.Node
-	for _, scope := range scopes {
-		for _, contribution := range scope.contributions {
-			documents = append(documents, contribution.document)
-		}
+	for _, contribution := range groupScope.contributions {
+		documents = append(documents, contribution.document)
 	}
 	if len(documents) == 0 {
 		return nil, sources, contexts, nil
@@ -197,6 +227,18 @@ func acquireUnderlayGroupWithPolicyVersion(group loadGroup, index int, rule *Ver
 	}
 	if composition != nil && rule != nil {
 		ranges := indexSequenceRanges(composition.sequenceRanges)
+		for sourceIndex, document := range documents {
+			if groupScope.contributions[sourceIndex].role == importRoleMain {
+				continue
+			}
+			if node := fragmentVersionClaimWithIndex(document, rule, sourceIndex, ranges); node != nil {
+				location := publicLocation(node.Location)
+				return nil, sources, contexts, []Diagnostic{{
+					Code: CodeImportVersion, Severity: SeverityError, Path: rule.Path.clone(),
+					Message: "imported fragments cannot contribute to the schema-version path", Primary: &location,
+				}}
+			}
+		}
 		for sourceIndex, document := range documents {
 			if node := fragmentVersionClaimWithIndex(document, rule, sourceIndex, ranges); node != nil {
 				location := publicLocation(node.Location)
@@ -209,13 +251,14 @@ func acquireUnderlayGroupWithPolicyVersion(group loadGroup, index int, rule *Ver
 	}
 	composition.inputBytes = accounting.bytes - initialBytes
 	composition.inputNodes = accounting.nodes - initialNodes
-	composition.acquisition = cloneAcquisitionScopes(scopes)
-	var projectionScope acquisitionScope
-	for _, scope := range scopes {
-		projectionScope.contributions = append(projectionScope.contributions, scope.contributions...)
+	groupScope.owner = importNodeKey{namespaceKind: "group", namespaceAnchor: explicitNamespaceAnchor(index, 0), resourceKind: "scope"}
+	for contributionIndex := range groupScope.contributions {
+		groupScope.contributions[contributionIndex].scopeOwner = groupScope.owner
 	}
-	projectNestedEvidence(composition, projectionScope)
-	projectAcquiredDestinations(composition, projectionScope, sources)
+	composition.acquisition = []acquisitionScope{cloneAcquisitionScope(groupScope)}
+	composition.importGraph = inclusionGraph.clone()
+	projectNestedEvidence(composition, groupScope)
+	projectAcquiredDestinations(composition, groupScope, sources)
 	for pointer, origin := range composition.origins {
 		origin.Layer = LayerUnderlay
 		composition.origins[pointer] = origin
@@ -225,3 +268,13 @@ func acquireUnderlayGroupWithPolicyVersion(group loadGroup, index int, rule *Ver
 	}
 	return composition, sources, contexts, nil
 }
+
+func nativeTokenForLoadInput(input loadInput) *namespaceToken {
+	if input.source.kind == sourceFilesystem && input.source.namespace != nil {
+		return input.source.namespace.token
+	}
+	if input.filesystem != nil && input.filesystem.FS != nil && input.filesystem.FS.namespace != nil {
+		return input.filesystem.FS.namespace.token
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/engine/load_request_test.go b/internal/engine/load_request_test.go
index 01ae505..4531453 100644
--- a/internal/engine/load_request_test.go
+++ b/internal/engine/load_request_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,186 @@ func testGroupedLoad[T any](request loadRequest[T]) (*testResult[T], error) {
 	return testLoaded(loaded), err
 }
 
+func TestUnderlayGroupSchedulesInterleavedImportBranches(t *testing.T) {
+	directory := t.TempDir()
+	zRoot := writeImportFile(t, directory, "z-root.yml", `configkit:
+  imports:
+    - path: d-parent.yml
+items: [{id: z}]
+`)
+	dParent := writeImportFile(t, directory, "d-parent.yml", `configkit:
+  imports:
+    - path: a-dependency.yml
+items: [{id: d}]
+`)
+	aDependency := writeImportFile(t, directory, "a-dependency.yml", "items: [{id: a}]\n")
+	bRoot := writeImportFile(t, directory, "b-root.yml", `configkit:
+  imports:
+    - path: c-helper.yml
+items: [{id: b}]
+`)
+	cHelper := writeImportFile(t, directory, "c-helper.yml", "items: [{id: c}]\n")
+
+	request := loadRequest[map[string]any]{
+		main: loadInput{source: NoSource()},
+		underlays: []loadGroup{{inputs: []loadInput{
+			{source: NoSource()},
+			{source: File(zRoot), imports: true},
+			{source: File(bRoot), imports: true},
+		}}},
+		definition: Definition[map[string]any]{sequenceRegistrations: []sequenceRegistration{{path: Keys("items"), identityField: "id"}}},
+	}
+	result, err := testGroupedLoad(request)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("grouped load: %v", err)
+	}
+	items := result.Config["items"].([]any)
+	wantIDs := []string{"a", "c", "b", "d", "z"}
+	if len(items) != len(wantIDs) {
+		t.Fatalf("scheduled items = %#v", items)
+	}
+	for index, want := range wantIDs {
+		if got := items[index].(map[string]any)["id"]; got != want {
+			t.Errorf("scheduled item %d ID = %#v, want %q", index, got, want)
+		}
+	}
+	wantPaths := []string{zRoot, dParent, aDependency, bRoot, cHelper}
+	for index, want := range wantPaths {
+		if got := result.Sources()[index].Path; got != canonicalTestPath(t, want) {
+			t.Errorf("acquired source %d path = %q, want %q", index, got, canonicalTestPath(t, want))
+		}
+	}
+	if got := result.Sources(); len(got) != len(wantPaths) {
+		t.Fatalf("NoSource added a source record: %#v", got)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestUnderlayNamespaceAnchorsUseInputPositionsAndFilesystemIdentity(t *testing.T) {
+	firstNamespace := NewFilesystem("same-label", fstest.MapFS{
+		"root.yml":  &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("items: [{id: first}]\n")},
+		"later.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("items: [{id: copied}]\n")},
+	})
+	secondNamespace := NewFilesystem("same-label", fstest.MapFS{
+		"root.yml": &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("items: [{id: second}]\n")},
+	})
+	request := loadRequest[map[string]any]{
+		main: loadInput{source: NoSource()},
+		underlays: []loadGroup{{inputs: []loadInput{
+			{source: firstNamespace.File("root.yml")},
+			{source: secondNamespace.File("root.yml")},
+			{source: firstNamespace.File("later.yml")},
+		}}},
+		definition: Definition[map[string]any]{sequenceRegistrations: []sequenceRegistration{{path: Keys("items"), identityField: "id"}}},
+	}
+	result, err := testGroupedLoad(request)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("grouped load with native namespaces: %v", err)
+	}
+	items := result.Config["items"].([]any)
+	wantIDs := []string{"copied", "first", "second"}
+	if len(items) != len(wantIDs) {
+		t.Fatalf("scheduled native items = %#v", items)
+	}
+	for index, want := range wantIDs {
+		if got := items[index].(map[string]any)["id"]; got != want {
+			t.Errorf("scheduled native item %d ID = %#v, want %q", index, got, want)
+		}
+	}
+	if sources := result.Sources(); len(sources) != len(wantIDs) {
+		t.Fatalf("source records = %#v", sources)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestUnderlayItemConflictUsesScheduledGroupIndex(t *testing.T) {
+	directory := t.TempDir()
+	zItem := writeImportFile(t, directory, "z-item.yml", "id: duplicate\n")
+	aItem := writeImportFile(t, directory, "a-item.yml", "id: duplicate\n")
+	request := loadRequest[map[string]any]{
+		main: loadInput{source: NoSource()},
+		underlays: []loadGroup{{inputs: []loadInput{
+			{source: File(zItem), destination: Keys("items"), placementMode: placementModeSequenceItem},
+			{source: File(aItem), destination: Keys("items"), placementMode: placementModeSequenceItem},
+		}}},
+		definition: Definition[map[string]any]{sequenceRegistrations: []sequenceRegistration{{path: Keys("items"), identityField: "id"}}},
+	}
+	_, err := testGroupedLoad(request)
+	loadError, ok := err.(*LoadError)
+	if !ok || len(loadError.Diagnostics()) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected item conflict: %v", err)
+	}
+	diagnostic := loadError.Diagnostics()[0]
+	if diagnostic.Code != CodeComposeConflict || diagnostic.Path.String() != "/items" {
+		t.Fatalf("group item conflict = %s %s, want compose.conflict /items", diagnostic.Code, diagnostic.Path.String())
+	}
+	files := make(map[string]string)
+	for _, source := range loadError.Sources() {
+		files[source.ID] = source.Path
+	}
+	locations := append([]Location(nil), diagnostic.Related...)
+	if diagnostic.Primary != nil {
+		locations = append(locations, *diagnostic.Primary)
+	}
+	wantLocations := map[string]Location{
+		canonicalTestPath(t, zItem): {Line: 1, Column: 5},
+		canonicalTestPath(t, aItem): {Line: 1, Column: 5},
+	}
+	gotPaths := make(map[string]bool, len(locations))
+	for _, location := range locations {
+		want := wantLocations[files[location.SourceID]]
+		gotPaths[files[location.SourceID]] = location.Line == want.Line && location.Column == want.Column
+	}
+	if len(locations) != 2 || !gotPaths[canonicalTestPath(t, zItem)] || !gotPaths[canonicalTestPath(t, aItem)] {
+		t.Fatalf("group item conflict sites = %#v; source paths = %#v", locations, files)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestUnderlayItemHelperConflictUsesScheduledGroupIndex(t *testing.T) {
+	directory := t.TempDir()
+	zBad := writeImportFile(t, directory, "z-bad.yml", "configkit: {imports: [{path: helper.yml}]}\nid: duplicate\n")
+	helper := writeImportFile(t, directory, "helper.yml", "id: duplicate\n")
+	aGood := writeImportFile(t, directory, "a-good.yml", "id: good\n")
+	request := loadRequest[map[string]any]{
+		main: loadInput{source: NoSource()},
+		underlays: []loadGroup{{inputs: []loadInput{
+			{source: File(zBad), imports: true, destination: Keys("items"), placementMode: placementModeSequenceItem},
+			{source: File(aGood), destination: Keys("items"), placementMode: placementModeSequenceItem},
+		}}},
+		definition: Definition[map[string]any]{sequenceRegistrations: []sequenceRegistration{{path: Keys("items"), identityField: "id"}}},
+	}
+	_, err := testGroupedLoad(request)
+	loadError, ok := err.(*LoadError)
+	if !ok || len(loadError.Diagnostics()) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected item helper conflict: %v", err)
+	}
+	diagnostic := loadError.Diagnostics()[0]
+	if diagnostic.Code != CodeComposeConflict || diagnostic.Path.String() != "/items/1/id" {
+		t.Fatalf("group item helper conflict = %s %s, want compose.conflict /items/1/id", diagnostic.Code, diagnostic.Path.String())
+	}
+	files := make(map[string]string)
+	for _, source := range loadError.Sources() {
+		files[source.ID] = source.Path
+	}
+	if len(files) != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("group acquisition stopped before all sources were read: %#v", files)
+	}
+	locations := append([]Location(nil), diagnostic.Related...)
+	if diagnostic.Primary != nil {
+		locations = append(locations, *diagnostic.Primary)
+	}
+	wantLocations := map[string]Location{
+		canonicalTestPath(t, zBad):   {Line: 2, Column: 5},
+		canonicalTestPath(t, helper): {Line: 1, Column: 5},
+	}
+	gotPaths := make(map[string]bool, len(locations))
+	for _, location := range locations {
+		want := wantLocations[files[location.SourceID]]
+		gotPaths[files[location.SourceID]] = location.Line == want.Line && location.Column == want.Column
+	}
+	if len(locations) != 2 || !gotPaths[canonicalTestPath(t, zBad)] || !gotPaths[canonicalTestPath(t, helper)] {
+		t.Fatalf("group item helper conflict sites = %#v; source paths = %#v", locations, files)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestGroupedLoadPrecedenceSourceOrderAndSingleLifecycle(t *testing.T) {
 	filesystem := NewFilesystem("bundle", fstest.MapFS{
 		"main.yml":          &fstest.MapFile{Data: []byte("configkit: {imports: [{path: imported.yml}]}\nversion: v1\nport: 5\nsettings: {shared: main}\n")},