diff --git a/clone.go b/clone.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f4900b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/clone.go
@@ -0,0 +1,159 @@
+package configkit
+
+import (
+	"encoding"
+	"math"
+	"reflect"
+)
+
+// secretCloneMode distinguishes fresh unresolved references from publication of
+// already validated private state, which must not trigger another lookup.
+type secretCloneMode uint8
+
+const (
+	cloneUnresolvedSecrets secretCloneMode = iota
+	cloneValidatedSecrets
+)
+
+func cloneConfiguration(schema *schemaDescriptor, value reflect.Value, limits projectionLimits) (reflect.Value, *projectionIssue) {
+	return cloneConfigurationWithMode(schema, value, limits, cloneUnresolvedSecrets)
+}
+
+func cloneConfigurationWithMode(schema *schemaDescriptor, value reflect.Value, limits projectionLimits, mode secretCloneMode) (reflect.Value, *projectionIssue) {
+	if schema == nil || schema.root == nil || !value.IsValid() || value.Type() != schema.root.typeOf {
+		return reflect.Value{}, &projectionIssue{code: CodeSchemaUnsupportedType, message: "configuration value does not match its schema"}
+	}
+	operation := valueOperation{schema: schema, limits: limits, active: make(map[valueVisit]bool), cloneMode: mode}
+	return operation.clone(value, schema.root, Path{}, 0)
+}
+
+func (o *valueOperation) clone(value reflect.Value, descriptor *typeDescriptor, path Path, depth int) (reflect.Value, *projectionIssue) {
+	if issue := o.checkDepth(path, depth); issue != nil {
+		return reflect.Value{}, issue
+	}
+	if descriptor.kind == descriptorPointer {
+		if value.IsNil() {
+			return reflect.Zero(value.Type()), nil
+		}
+		leave, issue := o.enter(value, path)
+		if issue != nil {
+			return reflect.Value{}, issue
+		}
+		defer leave()
+		child, issue := o.clone(value.Elem(), descriptor.element, path, depth)
+		if issue != nil {
+			return reflect.Value{}, issue
+		}
+		result := reflect.New(value.Type().Elem())
+		result.Elem().Set(child)
+		return result, nil
+	}
+
+	switch descriptor.kind {
+	case descriptorStruct:
+		result := reflect.New(value.Type()).Elem()
+		for _, member := range descriptor.members {
+			memberPath, memberDepth := path, depth
+			if !member.inline {
+				memberPath, memberDepth = path.Key(member.name), depth+1
+			}
+			cloned, issue := o.clone(value.Field(member.index), member.descriptor, memberPath, memberDepth)
+			if issue != nil {
+				return reflect.Value{}, issue
+			}
+			result.Field(member.index).Set(cloned)
+		}
+		return result, nil
+	case descriptorMap:
+		if value.IsNil() {
+			return reflect.Zero(value.Type()), nil
+		}
+		leave, issue := o.enter(value, path)
+		if issue != nil {
+			return reflect.Value{}, issue
+		}
+		defer leave()
+		result := reflect.MakeMapWithSize(value.Type(), value.Len())
+		for _, key := range value.MapKeys() {
+			cloned, issue := o.clone(value.MapIndex(key), descriptor.element, path.Key(key.String()), depth+1)
+			if issue != nil {
+				return reflect.Value{}, issue
+			}
+			result.SetMapIndex(key, cloned)
+		}
+		return result, nil
+	case descriptorSlice:
+		if value.IsNil() {
+			return reflect.Zero(value.Type()), nil
+		}
+		leave, issue := o.enter(value, path)
+		if issue != nil {
+			return reflect.Value{}, issue
+		}
+		defer leave()
+		result := reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), value.Len(), value.Len())
+		for i := 0; i < value.Len(); i++ {
+			cloned, issue := o.clone(value.Index(i), descriptor.element, path.Index(i), depth+1)
+			if issue != nil {
+				return reflect.Value{}, issue
+			}
+			result.Index(i).Set(cloned)
+		}
+		return result, nil
+	case descriptorArray:
+		result := reflect.New(value.Type()).Elem()
+		for i := 0; i < value.Len(); i++ {
+			cloned, issue := o.clone(value.Index(i), descriptor.element, path.Index(i), depth+1)
+			if issue != nil {
+				return reflect.Value{}, issue
+			}
+			result.Index(i).Set(cloned)
+		}
+		return result, nil
+	case descriptorDynamic:
+		if value.IsNil() {
+			return reflect.Zero(value.Type()), nil
+		}
+		concrete := value.Elem()
+		dynamic, issue := o.dynamicDescriptor(concrete.Type(), path)
+		if issue != nil {
+			return reflect.Value{}, issue
+		}
+		cloned, issue := o.clone(concrete, dynamic, path, depth)
+		if issue != nil {
+			return reflect.Value{}, issue
+		}
+		result := reflect.New(value.Type()).Elem()
+		result.Set(cloned)
+		return result, nil
+	case descriptorSecret:
+		result := reflect.New(value.Type()).Elem()
+		reference := value.Interface().(Secret)
+		if o.cloneMode == cloneValidatedSecrets {
+			result.Set(value)
+		} else if reference.specified {
+			result.Set(reflect.ValueOf(SecretEnv(reference.EnvName())))
+		}
+		return result, nil
+	case descriptorText:
+		text, issue := marshalCanonicalText(value, path)
+		if issue != nil {
+			return reflect.Value{}, issue
+		}
+		result := reflect.New(value.Type()).Elem()
+		unmarshaler := result.Addr().Interface().(encoding.TextUnmarshaler)
+		if err := unmarshaler.UnmarshalText([]byte(text)); err != nil {
+			return reflect.Value{}, &projectionIssue{code: CodeSchemaCodec, path: path.clone(), message: "custom text scalar could not be reconstructed"}
+		}
+		return result, nil
+	case descriptorFloat:
+		if math.IsNaN(value.Float()) || math.IsInf(value.Float(), 0) {
+			return reflect.Value{}, &projectionIssue{code: CodeSchemaNonFinite, path: path.clone(), message: "configuration float must be finite"}
+		}
+		fallthrough
+	default:
+		result := reflect.New(value.Type()).Elem()
+		result.Set(value)
+		return result, nil
+	}
+}
diff --git a/compose_test.go b/compose_test.go
index a806eb3..00967ba 100644
--- a/compose_test.go
+++ b/compose_test.go
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ values: [one, two]
 	if len(reversedDiagnostics) != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("reversed composeDocuments() diagnostics = %#v", reversedDiagnostics)
 	}
-	if deltas := compareDocumentTrees(composed.root, reversed.root); len(deltas) != 0 {
+	if deltas := compareConfigurationValues(composed.root, reversed.root); len(deltas) != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("input order changed effective values: %#v", deltas)
 	}
 
diff --git a/composition_fuzz_test.go b/composition_fuzz_test.go
index bbeb0a4..0c49a5c 100644
--- a/composition_fuzz_test.go
+++ b/composition_fuzz_test.go
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ func FuzzCompositionAndOverlay(f *testing.F) {
 			if len(reversedDiagnostics) != 0 {
 				t.Fatalf("reversed composition failed: %#v", reversedDiagnostics)
 			}
-			if differences := compareDocumentTrees(composed.root, reversed.root); len(differences) != 0 {
+			if differences := compareConfigurationValues(composed.root, reversed.root); len(differences) != 0 {
 				t.Fatalf("composition order changed effective values: %#v", differences)
 			}
 			composed.root.Mapping = append(composed.root.Mapping, document.Entry{Key: "fuzz-detachment"})
diff --git a/docs/internal/overview.md b/docs/internal/overview.md
index 551d66e..d8289c8 100644
--- a/docs/internal/overview.md
+++ b/docs/internal/overview.md
@@ -23,8 +23,10 @@ module and package documentation boundary. Its implemented public primitives are
   in `override.go`, sharing overlay, source, byte, node, and depth policies;
 - a per-operation private reflection descriptor graph in `schema.go` for supported
   types, YAML field binding, inlining, secret tags, recursion, and semantic paths;
-- descriptor-driven canonical projection, detached typed cloning, cycle/limit
-  enforcement, and structural comparison in `projection.go`;
+- descriptor-driven canonical projection in `projection.go`, detached typed
+  cloning with explicit secret-state modes in `clone.go`, shared reflection and
+  cycle/limit state in `value_operation.go`, and configuration-value comparison
+  in `document_compare.go`; validation separately audits sensitivity and secrets;
 - strict schema-driven decoding over detached defaults in `decode.go`, including
   mapping/sequence semantics, null and numeric policy, safe codec errors, presence,
   baseline/final trees, and initial default/input origins;
diff --git a/docs/roadmap/remediation.md b/docs/roadmap/remediation.md
index b8381af..efd7258 100644
--- a/docs/roadmap/remediation.md
+++ b/docs/roadmap/remediation.md
@@ -204,7 +204,16 @@ or predicate coverage changes. Do not add tests that assert walker call counts.
 
 ## Stage 5 — Separate typed projection, cloning, and comparison
 
-Status: pending.
+Status: complete.
+
+Completion: projection, detached cloning, shared reflection state, and value-only
+comparison now have separate owners. Named secret clone modes preserve the two
+ownership barriers. Validation combines value and sensitivity comparison in a
+named helper and separately audits resolved secret state. Standard `cmp.Compare`
+replaces the custom comparator; tests changed only for private symbol renames.
+Full offline baseline and race suites passed with Go 1.26.7 on Linux/amd64,
+including codec/cycle/limit, callback ownership, sensitivity, and secret-state
+regressions.
 
 Evidence: [projection.go](../../projection.go) combines roughly 622 lines of
 projection, detached cloning, dynamic schema handling, cycle/limit enforcement,
diff --git a/document_compare.go b/document_compare.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e00ced3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/document_compare.go
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+package configkit
+
+import (
+	"cmp"
+	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
+	"slices"
+)
+
+type documentDeltaKind uint8
+
+const (
+	documentAdded documentDeltaKind = iota + 1
+	documentRemoved
+	documentReplaced
+)
+
+type documentDelta struct {
+	path Path
+	kind documentDeltaKind
+}
+
+// compareConfigurationValues ignores locations and sensitivity metadata. Mapping
+// order is immaterial; sequences are atomic for change reporting.
+func compareConfigurationValues(before, after *document.Node) []documentDelta {
+	var deltas []documentDelta
+	compareConfigurationValue(before, after, Path{}, &deltas)
+	slices.SortFunc(deltas, func(left, right documentDelta) int {
+		if order := cmp.Compare(left.path.String(), right.path.String()); order != 0 {
+			return order
+		}
+		return int(left.kind) - int(right.kind)
+	})
+	return deltas
+}
+
+func compareConfigurationValue(before, after *document.Node, path Path, deltas *[]documentDelta) {
+	if before == nil && after == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	if before == nil {
+		*deltas = append(*deltas, documentDelta{path: path.clone(), kind: documentAdded})
+		return
+	}
+	if after == nil {
+		*deltas = append(*deltas, documentDelta{path: path.clone(), kind: documentRemoved})
+		return
+	}
+	if before.Kind != after.Kind {
+		*deltas = append(*deltas, documentDelta{path: path.clone(), kind: documentReplaced})
+		return
+	}
+	switch before.Kind {
+	case document.Mapping:
+		beforeEntries := make(map[string]*document.Node, len(before.Mapping))
+		afterEntries := make(map[string]*document.Node, len(after.Mapping))
+		keys := make(map[string]bool, len(before.Mapping)+len(after.Mapping))
+		for _, entry := range before.Mapping {
+			beforeEntries[entry.Key] = entry.Value
+			keys[entry.Key] = true
+		}
+		for _, entry := range after.Mapping {
+			afterEntries[entry.Key] = entry.Value
+			keys[entry.Key] = true
+		}
+		ordered := make([]string, 0, len(keys))
+		for key := range keys {
+			ordered = append(ordered, key)
+		}
+		slices.Sort(ordered)
+		for _, key := range ordered {
+			compareConfigurationValue(beforeEntries[key], afterEntries[key], path.Key(key), deltas)
+		}
+	case document.Sequence:
+		if !configurationValuesEqual(before, after) {
+			*deltas = append(*deltas, documentDelta{path: path.clone(), kind: documentReplaced})
+		}
+	default:
+		if before.Text != after.Text {
+			*deltas = append(*deltas, documentDelta{path: path.clone(), kind: documentReplaced})
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// configurationValuesEqual compares only configuration values, not provenance or
+// sensitivity. Callers auditing validation must check sensitivity separately.
+func configurationValuesEqual(left, right *document.Node) bool {
+	if left == nil || right == nil {
+		return left == right
+	}
+	if left.Kind != right.Kind || left.Text != right.Text || len(left.Mapping) != len(right.Mapping) || len(left.Sequence) != len(right.Sequence) {
+		return false
+	}
+	if left.Kind == document.Mapping {
+		leftMap := make(map[string]*document.Node, len(left.Mapping))
+		for _, entry := range left.Mapping {
+			leftMap[entry.Key] = entry.Value
+		}
+		for _, entry := range right.Mapping {
+			if !configurationValuesEqual(leftMap[entry.Key], entry.Value) {
+				return false
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	for i := range left.Sequence {
+		if !configurationValuesEqual(left.Sequence[i], right.Sequence[i]) {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
diff --git a/explain.go b/explain.go
index 9b7ba51..4c9e05e 100644
--- a/explain.go
+++ b/explain.go
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ func (r *Result[T]) Explain(path Path) (Explanation, bool) {
 	// explicitly, including canonical scalar conversions, before domain changes.
 	replayed, _ := documentAtPath(working, path)
 	decoded, _ := documentAtPath(r.input, path)
-	if !documentNodesEqual(replayed, decoded) {
+	if !configurationValuesEqual(replayed, decoded) {
 		origin := cloneOrigin(r.inputOrigins[path.String()])
 		origin.Operation = ChangeDecoding
 		explanation.History = append(explanation.History, ValueChange{
diff --git a/load.go b/load.go
index 7450682..e211905 100644
--- a/load.go
+++ b/load.go
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ func loadWithSecretLookup[T any](source Source, lookup secretLookup, supplied ..
 	}
 	// A read-only validator can replace a value with an equal borrowed object.
 	// Projected mutation checks cannot detect that alias, so detach at publication.
-	published, ownershipIssue := cloneConfigurationState(schema, reflect.ValueOf(configuration), defaultProjectionLimits(), true)
+	published, ownershipIssue := cloneConfigurationWithMode(schema, reflect.ValueOf(configuration), defaultProjectionLimits(), cloneValidatedSecrets)
 	if ownershipIssue != nil {
 		accumulator.add(diagnosticFromDecodeIssue(decodeIssueFromProjection(ownershipIssue)))
 		return nil, accumulator.loadError()
diff --git a/projection.go b/projection.go
index e6af802..e231587 100644
--- a/projection.go
+++ b/projection.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package configkit
 
 import (
+	"cmp"
 	"encoding"
 	"math"
 	"reflect"
@@ -12,35 +13,6 @@ import (
 	"gitea.maximumdirect.net/eric/ConfigKit/internal/document"
 )
 
-type projectionLimits struct {
-	depth int
-	nodes int
-}
-
-func defaultProjectionLimits() projectionLimits {
-	return projectionLimits{depth: maxDocumentDepth, nodes: maxDocumentNodes}
-}
-
-type projectionIssue struct {
-	code    Code
-	path    Path
-	message string
-}
-
-type valueVisit struct {
-	typeOf reflect.Type
-	kind   reflect.Kind
-	ptr    uintptr
-}
-
-type valueOperation struct {
-	preserveSecrets bool
-	schema          *schemaDescriptor
-	limits          projectionLimits
-	active          map[valueVisit]bool
-	nodes           int
-}
-
 func projectConfiguration(schema *schemaDescriptor, value reflect.Value, limits projectionLimits) (*document.Node, *projectionIssue) {
 	if schema == nil || schema.root == nil || !value.IsValid() || value.Type() != schema.root.typeOf {
 		return nil, &projectionIssue{code: CodeSchemaUnsupportedType, message: "configuration value does not match its schema"}
@@ -49,19 +21,6 @@ func projectConfiguration(schema *schemaDescriptor, value reflect.Value, limits
 	return operation.project(value, schema.root, Path{}, 0)
 }
 
-func cloneConfiguration(schema *schemaDescriptor, value reflect.Value, limits projectionLimits) (reflect.Value, *projectionIssue) {
-	return cloneConfigurationState(schema, value, limits, false)
-}
-
-// Publication copies preserve only already-validated private reference state.
-func cloneConfigurationState(schema *schemaDescriptor, value reflect.Value, limits projectionLimits, preserveSecrets bool) (reflect.Value, *projectionIssue) {
-	if schema == nil || schema.root == nil || !value.IsValid() || value.Type() != schema.root.typeOf {
-		return reflect.Value{}, &projectionIssue{code: CodeSchemaUnsupportedType, message: "configuration value does not match its schema"}
-	}
-	operation := valueOperation{schema: schema, limits: limits, active: make(map[valueVisit]bool), preserveSecrets: preserveSecrets}
-	return operation.clone(value, schema.root, Path{}, 0)
-}
-
 func (o *valueOperation) project(value reflect.Value, descriptor *typeDescriptor, path Path, depth int) (*document.Node, *projectionIssue) {
 	if issue := o.checkDepth(path, depth); issue != nil {
 		return nil, issue
@@ -149,7 +108,7 @@ func (o *valueOperation) project(value reflect.Value, descriptor *typeDescriptor
 		result.Mapping = make([]document.Entry, 0, value.Len())
 		keys := value.MapKeys()
 		slices.SortFunc(keys, func(left, right reflect.Value) int {
-			return cmpString(left.String(), right.String())
+			return cmp.Compare(left.String(), right.String())
 		})
 		for _, key := range keys {
 			childPath := path.Key(key.String())
@@ -258,171 +217,6 @@ func (o *valueOperation) project(value reflect.Value, descriptor *typeDescriptor
 	}
 }
 
-func (o *valueOperation) clone(value reflect.Value, descriptor *typeDescriptor, path Path, depth int) (reflect.Value, *projectionIssue) {
-	if issue := o.checkDepth(path, depth); issue != nil {
-		return reflect.Value{}, issue
-	}
-	if descriptor.kind == descriptorPointer {
-		if value.IsNil() {
-			return reflect.Zero(value.Type()), nil
-		}
-		leave, issue := o.enter(value, path)
-		if issue != nil {
-			return reflect.Value{}, issue
-		}
-		defer leave()
-		child, issue := o.clone(value.Elem(), descriptor.element, path, depth)
-		if issue != nil {
-			return reflect.Value{}, issue
-		}
-		result := reflect.New(value.Type().Elem())
-		result.Elem().Set(child)
-		return result, nil
-	}
-
-	switch descriptor.kind {
-	case descriptorStruct:
-		result := reflect.New(value.Type()).Elem()
-		for _, member := range descriptor.members {
-			memberPath, memberDepth := path, depth
-			if !member.inline {
-				memberPath, memberDepth = path.Key(member.name), depth+1
-			}
-			cloned, issue := o.clone(value.Field(member.index), member.descriptor, memberPath, memberDepth)
-			if issue != nil {
-				return reflect.Value{}, issue
-			}
-			result.Field(member.index).Set(cloned)
-		}
-		return result, nil
-	case descriptorMap:
-		if value.IsNil() {
-			return reflect.Zero(value.Type()), nil
-		}
-		leave, issue := o.enter(value, path)
-		if issue != nil {
-			return reflect.Value{}, issue
-		}
-		defer leave()
-		result := reflect.MakeMapWithSize(value.Type(), value.Len())
-		for _, key := range value.MapKeys() {
-			cloned, issue := o.clone(value.MapIndex(key), descriptor.element, path.Key(key.String()), depth+1)
-			if issue != nil {
-				return reflect.Value{}, issue
-			}
-			result.SetMapIndex(key, cloned)
-		}
-		return result, nil
-	case descriptorSlice:
-		if value.IsNil() {
-			return reflect.Zero(value.Type()), nil
-		}
-		leave, issue := o.enter(value, path)
-		if issue != nil {
-			return reflect.Value{}, issue
-		}
-		defer leave()
-		result := reflect.MakeSlice(value.Type(), value.Len(), value.Len())
-		for i := 0; i < value.Len(); i++ {
-			cloned, issue := o.clone(value.Index(i), descriptor.element, path.Index(i), depth+1)
-			if issue != nil {
-				return reflect.Value{}, issue
-			}
-			result.Index(i).Set(cloned)
-		}
-		return result, nil
-	case descriptorArray:
-		result := reflect.New(value.Type()).Elem()
-		for i := 0; i < value.Len(); i++ {
-			cloned, issue := o.clone(value.Index(i), descriptor.element, path.Index(i), depth+1)
-			if issue != nil {
-				return reflect.Value{}, issue
-			}
-			result.Index(i).Set(cloned)
-		}
-		return result, nil
-	case descriptorDynamic:
-		if value.IsNil() {
-			return reflect.Zero(value.Type()), nil
-		}
-		concrete := value.Elem()
-		dynamic, issue := o.dynamicDescriptor(concrete.Type(), path)
-		if issue != nil {
-			return reflect.Value{}, issue
-		}
-		cloned, issue := o.clone(concrete, dynamic, path, depth)
-		if issue != nil {
-			return reflect.Value{}, issue
-		}
-		result := reflect.New(value.Type()).Elem()
-		result.Set(cloned)
-		return result, nil
-	case descriptorSecret:
-		result := reflect.New(value.Type()).Elem()
-		reference := value.Interface().(Secret)
-		if o.preserveSecrets {
-			result.Set(value)
-		} else if reference.specified {
-			result.Set(reflect.ValueOf(SecretEnv(reference.EnvName())))
-		}
-		return result, nil
-	case descriptorText:
-		text, issue := marshalCanonicalText(value, path)
-		if issue != nil {
-			return reflect.Value{}, issue
-		}
-		result := reflect.New(value.Type()).Elem()
-		unmarshaler := result.Addr().Interface().(encoding.TextUnmarshaler)
-		if err := unmarshaler.UnmarshalText([]byte(text)); err != nil {
-			return reflect.Value{}, &projectionIssue{code: CodeSchemaCodec, path: path.clone(), message: "custom text scalar could not be reconstructed"}
-		}
-		return result, nil
-	case descriptorFloat:
-		if math.IsNaN(value.Float()) || math.IsInf(value.Float(), 0) {
-			return reflect.Value{}, &projectionIssue{code: CodeSchemaNonFinite, path: path.clone(), message: "configuration float must be finite"}
-		}
-		fallthrough
-	default:
-		result := reflect.New(value.Type()).Elem()
-		result.Set(value)
-		return result, nil
-	}
-}
-
-func (o *valueOperation) dynamicDescriptor(current reflect.Type, path Path) (*typeDescriptor, *projectionIssue) {
-	if current == secretType {
-		return nil, &projectionIssue{code: CodeSchemaDynamicType, path: path.clone(), message: "dynamic configuration values cannot establish secret-reference semantics"}
-	}
-	builder := schemaBuilder{cache: o.schema.types, building: make(map[reflect.Type]bool)}
-	descriptor, issue := builder.describe(current, path)
-	if issue != nil {
-		return nil, &projectionIssue{code: CodeSchemaDynamicType, path: path.clone(), message: "dynamic configuration value has an unsupported type"}
-	}
-	if descriptorContainsSecret(descriptor, make(map[*typeDescriptor]bool)) {
-		return nil, &projectionIssue{code: CodeSchemaDynamicType, path: path.clone(), message: "dynamic configuration values cannot establish secret-reference semantics"}
-	}
-	return descriptor, nil
-}
-
-func descriptorContainsSecret(descriptor *typeDescriptor, visited map[*typeDescriptor]bool) bool {
-	if descriptor == nil || visited[descriptor] {
-		return false
-	}
-	if descriptor.kind == descriptorSecret {
-		return true
-	}
-	visited[descriptor] = true
-	if descriptorContainsSecret(descriptor.element, visited) {
-		return true
-	}
-	for _, member := range descriptor.members {
-		if descriptorContainsSecret(member.descriptor, visited) {
-			return true
-		}
-	}
-	return false
-}
-
 func (o *valueOperation) node(kind document.Kind, path Path, depth int) (*document.Node, *projectionIssue) {
 	if issue := o.checkDepth(path, depth); issue != nil {
 		return nil, issue
@@ -433,64 +227,6 @@ func (o *valueOperation) node(kind document.Kind, path Path, depth int) (*docume
 	return &document.Node{Kind: kind}, nil
 }
 
-func (o *valueOperation) charge(path Path) *projectionIssue {
-	o.nodes++
-	if o.limits.nodes >= 0 && o.nodes > o.limits.nodes {
-		return &projectionIssue{code: CodeSchemaProjectionLimit, path: path.clone(), message: "configuration projection exceeds the node limit"}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-func (o *valueOperation) checkDepth(path Path, depth int) *projectionIssue {
-	if depth > o.limits.depth {
-		return &projectionIssue{code: CodeSchemaProjectionLimit, path: path.clone(), message: "configuration projection exceeds the depth limit"}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-func (o *valueOperation) enter(value reflect.Value, path Path) (func(), *projectionIssue) {
-	visit, ok := visitFor(value)
-	if !ok {
-		return func() {}, nil
-	}
-	if o.active[visit] {
-		return nil, &projectionIssue{code: CodeSchemaCycle, path: path.clone(), message: "configuration values must not contain cycles"}
-	}
-	o.active[visit] = true
-	return func() { delete(o.active, visit) }, nil
-}
-
-func visitFor(value reflect.Value) (valueVisit, bool) {
-	if isNilValue(value) {
-		return valueVisit{}, false
-	}
-	visit := valueVisit{typeOf: value.Type(), kind: value.Kind()}
-	switch value.Kind() {
-	case reflect.Pointer, reflect.Slice:
-		if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice && value.Len() == 0 {
-			return valueVisit{}, false
-		}
-		visit.ptr = value.Pointer()
-	case reflect.Map:
-		if value.Len() == 0 {
-			return valueVisit{}, false
-		}
-		visit.ptr = uintptr(value.UnsafePointer())
-	default:
-		return valueVisit{}, false
-	}
-	return visit, visit.ptr != 0
-}
-
-func isNilValue(value reflect.Value) bool {
-	switch value.Kind() {
-	case reflect.Chan, reflect.Func, reflect.Interface, reflect.Map, reflect.Pointer, reflect.Slice:
-		return value.IsNil()
-	default:
-		return false
-	}
-}
-
 func marshalCanonicalText(value reflect.Value, path Path) (string, *projectionIssue) {
 	var marshaler encoding.TextMarshaler
 	if value.CanInterface() {
@@ -510,113 +246,3 @@ func marshalCanonicalText(value reflect.Value, path Path) (string, *projectionIs
 	}
 	return string(text), nil
 }
-
-func cmpString(left, right string) int {
-	switch {
-	case left < right:
-		return -1
-	case left > right:
-		return 1
-	default:
-		return 0
-	}
-}
-
-type documentDeltaKind uint8
-
-const (
-	documentAdded documentDeltaKind = iota + 1
-	documentRemoved
-	documentReplaced
-)
-
-type documentDelta struct {
-	path Path
-	kind documentDeltaKind
-}
-
-func compareDocumentTrees(before, after *document.Node) []documentDelta {
-	var deltas []documentDelta
-	compareDocumentNode(before, after, Path{}, &deltas)
-	slices.SortFunc(deltas, func(left, right documentDelta) int {
-		if order := cmpString(left.path.String(), right.path.String()); order != 0 {
-			return order
-		}
-		return int(left.kind) - int(right.kind)
-	})
-	return deltas
-}
-
-func compareDocumentNode(before, after *document.Node, path Path, deltas *[]documentDelta) {
-	if before == nil && after == nil {
-		return
-	}
-	if before == nil {
-		*deltas = append(*deltas, documentDelta{path: path.clone(), kind: documentAdded})
-		return
-	}
-	if after == nil {
-		*deltas = append(*deltas, documentDelta{path: path.clone(), kind: documentRemoved})
-		return
-	}
-	if before.Kind != after.Kind {
-		*deltas = append(*deltas, documentDelta{path: path.clone(), kind: documentReplaced})
-		return
-	}
-	switch before.Kind {
-	case document.Mapping:
-		beforeEntries := make(map[string]*document.Node, len(before.Mapping))
-		afterEntries := make(map[string]*document.Node, len(after.Mapping))
-		keys := make(map[string]bool, len(before.Mapping)+len(after.Mapping))
-		for _, entry := range before.Mapping {
-			beforeEntries[entry.Key] = entry.Value
-			keys[entry.Key] = true
-		}
-		for _, entry := range after.Mapping {
-			afterEntries[entry.Key] = entry.Value
-			keys[entry.Key] = true
-		}
-		ordered := make([]string, 0, len(keys))
-		for key := range keys {
-			ordered = append(ordered, key)
-		}
-		slices.Sort(ordered)
-		for _, key := range ordered {
-			compareDocumentNode(beforeEntries[key], afterEntries[key], path.Key(key), deltas)
-		}
-	case document.Sequence:
-		if !documentNodesEqual(before, after) {
-			*deltas = append(*deltas, documentDelta{path: path.clone(), kind: documentReplaced})
-		}
-	default:
-		if before.Text != after.Text {
-			*deltas = append(*deltas, documentDelta{path: path.clone(), kind: documentReplaced})
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-func documentNodesEqual(left, right *document.Node) bool {
-	if left == nil || right == nil {
-		return left == right
-	}
-	if left.Kind != right.Kind || left.Text != right.Text || len(left.Mapping) != len(right.Mapping) || len(left.Sequence) != len(right.Sequence) {
-		return false
-	}
-	if left.Kind == document.Mapping {
-		leftMap := make(map[string]*document.Node, len(left.Mapping))
-		for _, entry := range left.Mapping {
-			leftMap[entry.Key] = entry.Value
-		}
-		for _, entry := range right.Mapping {
-			if !documentNodesEqual(leftMap[entry.Key], entry.Value) {
-				return false
-			}
-		}
-	}
-	for i := range left.Sequence {
-		if !documentNodesEqual(left.Sequence[i], right.Sequence[i]) {
-			return false
-		}
-	}
-	return true
-}
diff --git a/projection_test.go b/projection_test.go
index b09778a..985177d 100644
--- a/projection_test.go
+++ b/projection_test.go
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ func TestCompareDocumentTreesTracksSemanticChanges(t *testing.T) {
 	if issue != nil {
 		t.Fatal(issue.message)
 	}
-	deltas := compareDocumentTrees(before, after)
+	deltas := compareConfigurationValues(before, after)
 	want := []struct {
 		path string
 		kind documentDeltaKind
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ func TestCompareDocumentTreesTracksSemanticChanges(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatal("sequence comparison created index correspondence")
 		}
 	}
-	if equal := compareDocumentTrees(after, document.Clone(after)); len(equal) != 0 {
+	if equal := compareConfigurationValues(after, document.Clone(after)); len(equal) != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("equal trees changed = %#v", equal)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/provenance_test.go b/provenance_test.go
index f6e25ea..386c09f 100644
--- a/provenance_test.go
+++ b/provenance_test.go
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ empty: {}
 		t.Fatal(issue)
 	}
 	projected, projectionIssue := projectConfiguration(schema, reflect.ValueOf(result.Config), defaultProjectionLimits())
-	if projectionIssue != nil || !documentNodesEqual(projected, result.final) {
+	if projectionIssue != nil || !configurationValuesEqual(projected, result.final) {
 		t.Fatalf("typed projection and private snapshot disagree: %#v", projectionIssue)
 	}
 
diff --git a/resolution.go b/resolution.go
index 603e549..6e507a3 100644
--- a/resolution.go
+++ b/resolution.go
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ func runResolution[T any](configuration *T, resolver func(*T, *Resolution) error
 		state.addDiagnostic(CodeResolveInvalidValue, issue.path, "application resolution produced an invalid configuration value")
 		return resolutionResult{diagnostics: canonicalDiagnostics(state.diagnostics)}
 	}
-	deltas := compareDocumentTrees(decoded.final, after)
+	deltas := compareConfigurationValues(decoded.final, after)
 	ordered := orderedResolutionRecords(state.records)
 	for _, delta := range deltas {
 		if coveringResolutionRecord(ordered, delta.path) == nil {
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ func runResolution[T any](configuration *T, resolver func(*T, *Resolution) error
 			state.addDiagnostic(CodeResolveInvalidRecord, record.path, "resolution record does not identify an existing or removed value")
 			continue
 		}
-		if record.helperExpected != nil && (!afterPresent || !documentNodesEqual(record.helperExpected, afterNode)) {
+		if record.helperExpected != nil && (!afterPresent || !configurationValuesEqual(record.helperExpected, afterNode)) {
 			state.addDiagnostic(CodeResolveInvalidTarget, record.path, "resolution helper assignment does not match its declared configuration path")
 		}
 		_ = beforeNode
diff --git a/secret_reference.go b/secret_reference.go
index 5b6f2c1..caee05e 100644
--- a/secret_reference.go
+++ b/secret_reference.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package configkit
 
 import (
+	"cmp"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
@@ -139,7 +140,7 @@ func resolveSecretValue(value reflect.Value, descriptor *typeDescriptor, path Pa
 			return
 		}
 		keys := value.MapKeys()
-		slices.SortFunc(keys, func(left, right reflect.Value) int { return cmpString(left.String(), right.String()) })
+		slices.SortFunc(keys, func(left, right reflect.Value) int { return cmp.Compare(left.String(), right.String()) })
 		for _, key := range keys {
 			entry := reflect.New(value.Type().Elem()).Elem()
 			entry.Set(value.MapIndex(key))
@@ -167,7 +168,7 @@ func secretDiagnostic(code Code, path Path, message string, input *document.Node
 func changedSecretStates(root reflect.Value, descriptor *typeDescriptor, lookups map[string]secretLookupResult) []Path {
 	var changed []Path
 	collectChangedSecretStates(root, descriptor, Path{}, lookups, &changed)
-	slices.SortFunc(changed, func(left, right Path) int { return cmpString(left.String(), right.String()) })
+	slices.SortFunc(changed, func(left, right Path) int { return cmp.Compare(left.String(), right.String()) })
 	return changed
 }
 
@@ -198,7 +199,7 @@ func collectChangedSecretStates(value reflect.Value, descriptor *typeDescriptor,
 			return
 		}
 		keys := value.MapKeys()
-		slices.SortFunc(keys, func(left, right reflect.Value) int { return cmpString(left.String(), right.String()) })
+		slices.SortFunc(keys, func(left, right reflect.Value) int { return cmp.Compare(left.String(), right.String()) })
 		for _, key := range keys {
 			collectChangedSecretStates(value.MapIndex(key), descriptor.element, path.Key(key.String()), lookups, changed)
 		}
diff --git a/validation.go b/validation.go
index cf1bd77..ed1cca2 100644
--- a/validation.go
+++ b/validation.go
@@ -109,21 +109,7 @@ func runValidation[T any](configuration *T, validator func(*T, *Validation), sch
 		state.diagnostics = append(state.diagnostics, validationMutationDiagnostic(issue.path))
 		return canonicalDiagnostics(state.diagnostics)
 	}
-	for _, delta := range compareDocumentTrees(before, after) {
-		state.diagnostics = append(state.diagnostics, validationMutationDiagnostic(delta.path))
-	}
-	beforeSensitivity := projectedSensitivity(before)
-	afterSensitivity := projectedSensitivity(after)
-	for pointer, path := range beforeSensitivity {
-		if _, exists := afterSensitivity[pointer]; !exists {
-			state.diagnostics = append(state.diagnostics, validationMutationDiagnostic(path))
-		}
-	}
-	for pointer, path := range afterSensitivity {
-		if _, exists := beforeSensitivity[pointer]; !exists {
-			state.diagnostics = append(state.diagnostics, validationMutationDiagnostic(path))
-		}
-	}
+	state.diagnostics = append(state.diagnostics, validationValueMutations(before, after)...)
 	for _, path := range changedSecretStates(reflect.ValueOf(*configuration), schema.root, lookups) {
 		state.diagnostics = append(state.diagnostics, validationMutationDiagnostic(path))
 	}
@@ -178,3 +164,25 @@ func nearestDocumentLocation(root *document.Node, path Path) (document.Location,
 func locationKnown(location document.Location) bool {
 	return location.SourceID != "" || location.Line != 0 || location.Column != 0
 }
+
+// validationValueMutations combines value and sensitivity changes; resolved
+// secret state is audited separately because it never enters projected trees.
+func validationValueMutations(before, after *document.Node) []Diagnostic {
+	var diagnostics []Diagnostic
+	for _, delta := range compareConfigurationValues(before, after) {
+		diagnostics = append(diagnostics, validationMutationDiagnostic(delta.path))
+	}
+	beforeSensitivity := projectedSensitivity(before)
+	afterSensitivity := projectedSensitivity(after)
+	for pointer, path := range beforeSensitivity {
+		if _, exists := afterSensitivity[pointer]; !exists {
+			diagnostics = append(diagnostics, validationMutationDiagnostic(path))
+		}
+	}
+	for pointer, path := range afterSensitivity {
+		if _, exists := beforeSensitivity[pointer]; !exists {
+			diagnostics = append(diagnostics, validationMutationDiagnostic(path))
+		}
+	}
+	return diagnostics
+}
diff --git a/value_operation.go b/value_operation.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7e926b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/value_operation.go
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+package configkit
+
+import "reflect"
+
+type projectionLimits struct {
+	depth int
+	nodes int
+}
+
+func defaultProjectionLimits() projectionLimits {
+	return projectionLimits{depth: maxDocumentDepth, nodes: maxDocumentNodes}
+}
+
+type projectionIssue struct {
+	code    Code
+	path    Path
+	message string
+}
+
+type valueVisit struct {
+	typeOf reflect.Type
+	kind   reflect.Kind
+	ptr    uintptr
+}
+
+// valueOperation owns one traversal's cycle and budget state and reuses the
+// current load's descriptor cache for dynamic values.
+type valueOperation struct {
+	cloneMode secretCloneMode
+	schema    *schemaDescriptor
+	limits    projectionLimits
+	active    map[valueVisit]bool
+	nodes     int
+}
+
+func (o *valueOperation) dynamicDescriptor(current reflect.Type, path Path) (*typeDescriptor, *projectionIssue) {
+	if current == secretType {
+		return nil, &projectionIssue{code: CodeSchemaDynamicType, path: path.clone(), message: "dynamic configuration values cannot establish secret-reference semantics"}
+	}
+	builder := schemaBuilder{cache: o.schema.types, building: make(map[reflect.Type]bool)}
+	descriptor, issue := builder.describe(current, path)
+	if issue != nil {
+		return nil, &projectionIssue{code: CodeSchemaDynamicType, path: path.clone(), message: "dynamic configuration value has an unsupported type"}
+	}
+	if descriptorContainsSecret(descriptor, make(map[*typeDescriptor]bool)) {
+		return nil, &projectionIssue{code: CodeSchemaDynamicType, path: path.clone(), message: "dynamic configuration values cannot establish secret-reference semantics"}
+	}
+	return descriptor, nil
+}
+
+func descriptorContainsSecret(descriptor *typeDescriptor, visited map[*typeDescriptor]bool) bool {
+	if descriptor == nil || visited[descriptor] {
+		return false
+	}
+	if descriptor.kind == descriptorSecret {
+		return true
+	}
+	visited[descriptor] = true
+	if descriptorContainsSecret(descriptor.element, visited) {
+		return true
+	}
+	for _, member := range descriptor.members {
+		if descriptorContainsSecret(member.descriptor, visited) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func (o *valueOperation) charge(path Path) *projectionIssue {
+	o.nodes++
+	if o.limits.nodes >= 0 && o.nodes > o.limits.nodes {
+		return &projectionIssue{code: CodeSchemaProjectionLimit, path: path.clone(), message: "configuration projection exceeds the node limit"}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (o *valueOperation) checkDepth(path Path, depth int) *projectionIssue {
+	if depth > o.limits.depth {
+		return &projectionIssue{code: CodeSchemaProjectionLimit, path: path.clone(), message: "configuration projection exceeds the depth limit"}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (o *valueOperation) enter(value reflect.Value, path Path) (func(), *projectionIssue) {
+	visit, ok := visitFor(value)
+	if !ok {
+		return func() {}, nil
+	}
+	if o.active[visit] {
+		return nil, &projectionIssue{code: CodeSchemaCycle, path: path.clone(), message: "configuration values must not contain cycles"}
+	}
+	o.active[visit] = true
+	return func() { delete(o.active, visit) }, nil
+}
+
+func visitFor(value reflect.Value) (valueVisit, bool) {
+	if isNilValue(value) {
+		return valueVisit{}, false
+	}
+	visit := valueVisit{typeOf: value.Type(), kind: value.Kind()}
+	switch value.Kind() {
+	case reflect.Pointer, reflect.Slice:
+		if value.Kind() == reflect.Slice && value.Len() == 0 {
+			return valueVisit{}, false
+		}
+		visit.ptr = value.Pointer()
+	case reflect.Map:
+		if value.Len() == 0 {
+			return valueVisit{}, false
+		}
+		visit.ptr = uintptr(value.UnsafePointer())
+	default:
+		return valueVisit{}, false
+	}
+	return visit, visit.ptr != 0
+}
+
+func isNilValue(value reflect.Value) bool {
+	switch value.Kind() {
+	case reflect.Chan, reflect.Func, reflect.Interface, reflect.Map, reflect.Pointer, reflect.Slice:
+		return value.IsNil()
+	default:
+		return false
+	}
+}