diff --git a/lib/commands/view.js b/lib/commands/view.js
index 6656df9873e2c..9a3d8f29233c4 100644
--- a/lib/commands/view.js
+++ b/lib/commands/view.js
@@ -240,18 +240,12 @@ class View extends BaseCommand {
     })
 
     if (json) {
-      // TODO(BREAKING_CHANGE): all unwrapping should be removed.
-      // Users should know based on their arguments if they can expect an array or an object.
-      // And this unwrapping can break that assumption.
-      // e.g. `npm view abbrev@^2` should always return an array, but currently since there is only one version matching `^2` this will return a single object instead.
+      // Users can expect an array .
       const first = Object.keys(res[0] || {})
       const jsonRes = first.length === 1 ? res.map(m => m[first[0]]) : res
       if (jsonRes.length === 0) {
         return
       }
-      if (jsonRes.length === 1) {
-        return jsonRes[0]
-      }
       return jsonRes
     }
 
diff --git a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/commands/view.js.test.cjs b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/commands/view.js.test.cjs
index 8d66ef780008b..470d4138e90fd 100644
--- a/tap-snapshots/test/lib/commands/view.js.test.cjs
+++ b/tap-snapshots/test/lib/commands/view.js.test.cjs
@@ -321,22 +321,24 @@ published {TIME} ago
 `
 
 exports[`test/lib/commands/view.js TAP package with single version full json > must match snapshot 1`] = `
-{
-  "_id": "single-version",
-  "name": "single-version",
-  "dist-tags": {
-    "latest": "1.0.0"
-  },
-  "versions": [
-    "1.0.0"
-  ],
-  "version": "1.0.0",
-  "dist": {
-    "shasum": "123",
-    "tarball": "http://hm.single-version.com/1.0.0.tgz",
-    "fileCount": 1
+[
+  {
+    "_id": "single-version",
+    "name": "single-version",
+    "dist-tags": {
+      "latest": "1.0.0"
+    },
+    "versions": [
+      "1.0.0"
+    ],
+    "version": "1.0.0",
+    "dist": {
+      "shasum": "123",
+      "tarball": "http://hm.single-version.com/1.0.0.tgz",
+      "fileCount": 1
+    }
   }
-}
+]
 `
 
 exports[`test/lib/commands/view.js TAP specific field names array field - 1 element > must match snapshot 1`] = `
@@ -415,60 +417,62 @@ error 404 404
 
 exports[`test/lib/commands/view.js TAP workspaces 404 workspaces json > must match snapshot 1`] = `
 {
-  "green": {
-    "_id": "green",
-    "name": "green",
-    "dist-tags": {
-      "latest": "1.0.0"
-    },
-    "maintainers": [
-      {
-        "name": "claudia",
-        "email": "c@yellow.com",
-        "twitter": "cyellow"
+  "green": [
+    {
+      "_id": "green",
+      "name": "green",
+      "dist-tags": {
+        "latest": "1.0.0"
+      },
+      "maintainers": [
+        {
+          "name": "claudia",
+          "email": "c@yellow.com",
+          "twitter": "cyellow"
+        },
+        {
+          "name": "isaacs",
+          "email": "i@yellow.com",
+          "twitter": "iyellow"
+        }
+      ],
+      "keywords": [
+        "colors",
+        "green",
+        "crayola"
+      ],
+      "versions": [
+        "1.0.0",
+        "1.0.1"
+      ],
+      "version": "1.0.0",
+      "description": "green is a very important color",
+      "bugs": {
+        "url": "http://bugs.green.com"
+      },
+      "deprecated": true,
+      "repository": {
+        "url": "http://repository.green.com"
       },
-      {
-        "name": "isaacs",
-        "email": "i@yellow.com",
-        "twitter": "iyellow"
+      "license": {
+        "type": "ACME"
+      },
+      "bin": {
+        "green": "bin/green.js"
+      },
+      "dependencies": {
+        "red": "1.0.0",
+        "yellow": "1.0.0"
+      },
+      "dist": {
+        "shasum": "123",
+        "tarball": "http://hm.green.com/1.0.0.tgz",
+        "integrity": "---",
+        "fileCount": 1,
+        "unpackedSize": 1000000000
       }
-    ],
-    "keywords": [
-      "colors",
-      "green",
-      "crayola"
-    ],
-    "versions": [
-      "1.0.0",
-      "1.0.1"
-    ],
-    "version": "1.0.0",
-    "description": "green is a very important color",
-    "bugs": {
-      "url": "http://bugs.green.com"
-    },
-    "deprecated": true,
-    "repository": {
-      "url": "http://repository.green.com"
-    },
-    "license": {
-      "type": "ACME"
-    },
-    "bin": {
-      "green": "bin/green.js"
-    },
-    "dependencies": {
-      "red": "1.0.0",
-      "yellow": "1.0.0"
-    },
-    "dist": {
-      "shasum": "123",
-      "tarball": "http://hm.green.com/1.0.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "---",
-      "fileCount": 1,
-      "unpackedSize": 1000000000
     }
-  },
+  ],
   "error": {
     "missing-package": {
       "code": "E404",
@@ -530,80 +534,84 @@ error Unknown error
 
 exports[`test/lib/commands/view.js TAP workspaces all workspaces --json > must match snapshot 1`] = `
 {
-  "green": {
-    "_id": "green",
-    "name": "green",
-    "dist-tags": {
-      "latest": "1.0.0"
-    },
-    "maintainers": [
-      {
-        "name": "claudia",
-        "email": "c@yellow.com",
-        "twitter": "cyellow"
+  "green": [
+    {
+      "_id": "green",
+      "name": "green",
+      "dist-tags": {
+        "latest": "1.0.0"
+      },
+      "maintainers": [
+        {
+          "name": "claudia",
+          "email": "c@yellow.com",
+          "twitter": "cyellow"
+        },
+        {
+          "name": "isaacs",
+          "email": "i@yellow.com",
+          "twitter": "iyellow"
+        }
+      ],
+      "keywords": [
+        "colors",
+        "green",
+        "crayola"
+      ],
+      "versions": [
+        "1.0.0",
+        "1.0.1"
+      ],
+      "version": "1.0.0",
+      "description": "green is a very important color",
+      "bugs": {
+        "url": "http://bugs.green.com"
+      },
+      "deprecated": true,
+      "repository": {
+        "url": "http://repository.green.com"
+      },
+      "license": {
+        "type": "ACME"
+      },
+      "bin": {
+        "green": "bin/green.js"
       },
-      {
-        "name": "isaacs",
-        "email": "i@yellow.com",
-        "twitter": "iyellow"
+      "dependencies": {
+        "red": "1.0.0",
+        "yellow": "1.0.0"
+      },
+      "dist": {
+        "shasum": "123",
+        "tarball": "http://hm.green.com/1.0.0.tgz",
+        "integrity": "---",
+        "fileCount": 1,
+        "unpackedSize": 1000000000
       }
-    ],
-    "keywords": [
-      "colors",
-      "green",
-      "crayola"
-    ],
-    "versions": [
-      "1.0.0",
-      "1.0.1"
-    ],
-    "version": "1.0.0",
-    "description": "green is a very important color",
-    "bugs": {
-      "url": "http://bugs.green.com"
-    },
-    "deprecated": true,
-    "repository": {
-      "url": "http://repository.green.com"
-    },
-    "license": {
-      "type": "ACME"
-    },
-    "bin": {
-      "green": "bin/green.js"
-    },
-    "dependencies": {
-      "red": "1.0.0",
-      "yellow": "1.0.0"
-    },
-    "dist": {
-      "shasum": "123",
-      "tarball": "http://hm.green.com/1.0.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "---",
-      "fileCount": 1,
-      "unpackedSize": 1000000000
     }
-  },
-  "orange": {
-    "name": "orange",
-    "dist-tags": {
-      "latest": "1.0.0"
-    },
-    "versions": [
-      "1.0.0",
-      "1.0.1"
-    ],
-    "version": "1.0.0",
-    "homepage": "http://hm.orange.com",
-    "license": {},
-    "dist": {
-      "shasum": "123",
-      "tarball": "http://hm.orange.com/1.0.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "---",
-      "fileCount": 1,
-      "unpackedSize": 1
+  ],
+  "orange": [
+    {
+      "name": "orange",
+      "dist-tags": {
+        "latest": "1.0.0"
+      },
+      "versions": [
+        "1.0.0",
+        "1.0.1"
+      ],
+      "version": "1.0.0",
+      "homepage": "http://hm.orange.com",
+      "license": {},
+      "dist": {
+        "shasum": "123",
+        "tarball": "http://hm.orange.com/1.0.0.tgz",
+        "integrity": "---",
+        "fileCount": 1,
+        "unpackedSize": 1
+      }
     }
-  }
+  ]
 }
 `
 
@@ -658,8 +666,12 @@ orange:
 
 exports[`test/lib/commands/view.js TAP workspaces all workspaces single field --json > must match snapshot 1`] = `
 {
-  "green": "green",
-  "orange": "orange"
+  "green": [
+    "green"
+  ],
+  "orange": [
+    "orange"
+  ]
 }
 `
 
@@ -720,59 +732,61 @@ Array [
 
 exports[`test/lib/commands/view.js TAP workspaces single workspace --json > must match snapshot 1`] = `
 {
-  "green": {
-    "_id": "green",
-    "name": "green",
-    "dist-tags": {
-      "latest": "1.0.0"
-    },
-    "maintainers": [
-      {
-        "name": "claudia",
-        "email": "c@yellow.com",
-        "twitter": "cyellow"
+  "green": [
+    {
+      "_id": "green",
+      "name": "green",
+      "dist-tags": {
+        "latest": "1.0.0"
+      },
+      "maintainers": [
+        {
+          "name": "claudia",
+          "email": "c@yellow.com",
+          "twitter": "cyellow"
+        },
+        {
+          "name": "isaacs",
+          "email": "i@yellow.com",
+          "twitter": "iyellow"
+        }
+      ],
+      "keywords": [
+        "colors",
+        "green",
+        "crayola"
+      ],
+      "versions": [
+        "1.0.0",
+        "1.0.1"
+      ],
+      "version": "1.0.0",
+      "description": "green is a very important color",
+      "bugs": {
+        "url": "http://bugs.green.com"
+      },
+      "deprecated": true,
+      "repository": {
+        "url": "http://repository.green.com"
       },
-      {
-        "name": "isaacs",
-        "email": "i@yellow.com",
-        "twitter": "iyellow"
+      "license": {
+        "type": "ACME"
+      },
+      "bin": {
+        "green": "bin/green.js"
+      },
+      "dependencies": {
+        "red": "1.0.0",
+        "yellow": "1.0.0"
+      },
+      "dist": {
+        "shasum": "123",
+        "tarball": "http://hm.green.com/1.0.0.tgz",
+        "integrity": "---",
+        "fileCount": 1,
+        "unpackedSize": 1000000000
       }
-    ],
-    "keywords": [
-      "colors",
-      "green",
-      "crayola"
-    ],
-    "versions": [
-      "1.0.0",
-      "1.0.1"
-    ],
-    "version": "1.0.0",
-    "description": "green is a very important color",
-    "bugs": {
-      "url": "http://bugs.green.com"
-    },
-    "deprecated": true,
-    "repository": {
-      "url": "http://repository.green.com"
-    },
-    "license": {
-      "type": "ACME"
-    },
-    "bin": {
-      "green": "bin/green.js"
-    },
-    "dependencies": {
-      "red": "1.0.0",
-      "yellow": "1.0.0"
-    },
-    "dist": {
-      "shasum": "123",
-      "tarball": "http://hm.green.com/1.0.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "---",
-      "fileCount": 1,
-      "unpackedSize": 1000000000
     }
-  }
+  ]
 }
 `
diff --git a/test/lib/commands/view.js b/test/lib/commands/view.js
index f1b7b5895113b..84f1edcd96d10 100644
--- a/test/lib/commands/view.js
+++ b/test/lib/commands/view.js
@@ -465,6 +465,29 @@ t.test('package with --json and semver range', async t => {
   t.matchSnapshot(joinedOutput())
 })
 
+t.test('package with --json and single-match semver range preserves array output', async t => {
+  const { view, joinedOutput } = await loadMockNpm(t, { config: { json: true } })
+  await view.exec(['single-version@^1'])
+  const parsed = JSON.parse(joinedOutput())
+  t.ok(Array.isArray(parsed), 'preserves the top-level array for semver ranges')
+  t.equal(parsed.length, 1, 'returns the single matching version in an array')
+  t.match(parsed[0], {
+    name: 'single-version',
+    version: '1.0.0',
+    dist: {
+      shasum: '123',
+      tarball: 'http://hm.single-version.com/1.0.0.tgz',
+      fileCount: 1,
+    },
+  }, 'returns the expected package data')
+})
+
+t.test('package field with --json and single-match semver range preserves array output', async t => {
+  const { view, joinedOutput } = await loadMockNpm(t, { config: { json: true } })
+  await view.exec(['single-version@^1', 'version'])
+  t.strictSame(JSON.parse(joinedOutput()), ['1.0.0'], 'does not unwrap single field matches for semver ranges')
+})
+
 t.test('package with _npmUser.trustedPublisher shows cleaned up property with --json', async t => {
   const { view, joinedOutput } = await loadMockNpm(t, { config: { json: true } })
   await view.exec(['cyan-oidc@^1.0.0'])
@@ -480,7 +503,7 @@ t.test('package with --json and no versions', async t => {
 t.test('package with --json and single string arg', async t => {
   const { view, joinedOutput } = await loadMockNpm(t, { config: { json: true } })
   await view.exec(['blue', 'dist-tags.latest'])
-  t.equal(JSON.parse(joinedOutput()), '1.0.0', 'no info to display')
+  t.strictSame(JSON.parse(joinedOutput()), ['1.0.0'], 'returns single string value as array')
 })
 
 t.test('package with single version', async t => {
@@ -494,7 +517,7 @@ t.test('package with single version', async t => {
     const { view, joinedOutput } = await loadMockNpm(t, { config: { json: true } })
     await view.exec(['single-version', 'versions'])
     const parsed = JSON.parse(joinedOutput())
-    t.strictSame(parsed, ['1.0.0'], 'does not unwrap single item arrays in json')
+    t.strictSame(parsed, [['1.0.0']], 'does not unwrap single item arrays in json')
   })
 
   t.test('no json and versions arg', async t => {
diff --git a/workspaces/arborist/lib/arborist/build-ideal-tree.js b/workspaces/arborist/lib/arborist/build-ideal-tree.js
index bc509ca47944c..e91e74d7c0107 100644
--- a/workspaces/arborist/lib/arborist/build-ideal-tree.js
+++ b/workspaces/arborist/lib/arborist/build-ideal-tree.js
@@ -898,8 +898,21 @@ This is a one-time fix-up, please be patient...
       // be forced to agree on a version of z.
       const required = new Set([edge.from])
       const parent = edge.peer ? virtualRoot : null
-      const dep = vrDep && vrDep.satisfies(edge) ? vrDep
-        : await this.#nodeFromEdge(edge, parent, null, required)
+      let dep = vrDep && vrDep.satisfies(edge) ? vrDep : null
+
+      // A peerOptional conflict can be resolved by finding an existing node in the tree that satisfies the edge, avoiding a registry fetch that may introduce an extraneous package. See npm/cli#9249.
+      // Skip the shortcut when the user has signaled an explicit re-fetch intent (npm update by name, explicit request, or audit fix), so we honor those signals rather than silently keeping the existing node.
+      const skipExistingShortcut = this[_updateNames].includes(edge.name)
+        || this.#explicitRequests.has(edge)
+        || (edge.to && this.auditReport?.isVulnerable(edge.to))
+      if (!dep && edge.type === 'peerOptional' && !skipExistingShortcut) {
+        dep = this.#findHoistableNode(
+          /* istanbul ignore next - resolveParent is always set for non-root nodes */
+          edge.from.resolveParent || edge.from, edge)
+      }
+      if (!dep) {
+        dep = await this.#nodeFromEdge(edge, parent, null, required)
+      }
 
       /* istanbul ignore next */
       debug(() => {
@@ -1029,6 +1042,24 @@ This is a one-time fix-up, please be patient...
     return this.#buildDepStep()
   }
 
+  // BFS descendants of `root` for a node satisfying `edge`.
+  // Prefers nodes closer to root.  Skips bundled nodes.
+  #findHoistableNode (root, edge) {
+    const queue = [...root.children.values()]
+    while (queue.length) {
+      const node = queue.shift()
+      if (node.name === edge.name
+        && !node.inDepBundle
+        && node.satisfies(edge)) {
+        return node
+      }
+      for (const child of node.children.values()) {
+        queue.push(child)
+      }
+    }
+    return null
+  }
+
   // loads a node from an edge, and then loads its peer deps (and their peer deps, on down the line) into a virtual root parent.
   async #nodeFromEdge (edge, parent_, secondEdge, required) {
     // create a virtual root node with the same deps as the node that is requesting this one, so that we can get all the peer deps in a context where they're likely to be resolvable.
diff --git a/workspaces/arborist/test/arborist/build-ideal-tree.js b/workspaces/arborist/test/arborist/build-ideal-tree.js
index d1e1895baa6ee..270040425d58a 100644
--- a/workspaces/arborist/test/arborist/build-ideal-tree.js
+++ b/workspaces/arborist/test/arborist/build-ideal-tree.js
@@ -4482,6 +4482,140 @@ t.test('skip invalid peerOptional edges in problemEdges when save=false (#8726)'
   t.ok(tree.children.get('util'), 'util is in the tree')
 })
 
+t.test('peerOptional prefers existing tree node over registry fetch (#9249)', async t => {
+  // Reproduction: ts-jest has peerOptional jest-util@"^29||^30".
+  // @types/jest@28 → expect@28 → jest-util@28 placed at root first.
+  // jest@29 → jest-util@29 nested (root slot taken by @28).
+  // ts-jest re-queued, peerOptional jest-util resolves to root @28 → INVALID.
+  // Without fix: #nodeFromEdge fetches jest-util@30 (latest ^29||^30), blocks @29.
+  // With fix: #findHoistableNode finds nested @29, PlaceDep hoists it to root.
+  const registry = createRegistry(t, false)
+
+  const jestPack = registry.packument({
+    name: 'jest',
+    version: '29.0.0',
+    dependencies: { 'jest-util': '^29.0.0' },
+  })
+  const jestManifest = registry.manifest({ name: 'jest', packuments: [jestPack] })
+  await registry.package({ manifest: jestManifest })
+
+  const tsJestPack = registry.packument({
+    name: 'ts-jest',
+    version: '29.0.0',
+    peerDependencies: { jest: '^29.0.0', 'jest-util': '^29.0.0 || ^30.0.0' },
+    peerDependenciesMeta: { 'jest-util': { optional: true } },
+  })
+  const tsJestManifest = registry.manifest({ name: 'ts-jest', packuments: [tsJestPack] })
+  await registry.package({ manifest: tsJestManifest })
+
+  const expectPack = registry.packument({
+    name: 'expect',
+    version: '28.0.0',
+    dependencies: { 'jest-util': '^28.0.0' },
+  })
+  const expectManifest = registry.manifest({ name: 'expect', packuments: [expectPack] })
+  await registry.package({ manifest: expectManifest })
+
+  const atTypesPack = registry.packument({
+    name: '@types/jest',
+    version: '28.0.0',
+    dependencies: { expect: '^28.0.0' },
+  })
+  const atTypesManifest = registry.manifest({ name: '@types/jest', packuments: [atTypesPack] })
+  await registry.package({ manifest: atTypesManifest })
+
+  // Only publish 28, 29, and 30.
+  const jestUtilPacks = registry.packuments(['28.0.0', '29.0.0', '30.0.0'], 'jest-util')
+  const jestUtilManifest = registry.manifest({ name: 'jest-util', packuments: jestUtilPacks })
+  await registry.package({ manifest: jestUtilManifest, times: 3 })
+
+  const path = t.testdir({
+    'package.json': JSON.stringify({
+      dependencies: {
+        jest: '^29.0.0',
+        'ts-jest': '^29.0.0',
+        '@types/jest': '^28.0.0',
+      },
+    }),
+  })
+
+  const arb = newArb(path)
+  const tree = await arb.buildIdealTree()
+
+  // jest-util@29 at root — found via #findHoistableNode, not fetched as @30
+  t.equal(tree.children.get('jest-util').version, '29.0.0',
+    'jest-util@29 hoisted to root from nested location')
+
+  // ts-jest's peerOptional resolved to @29 from the tree, not @30 from registry
+  const tsJest = tree.children.get('ts-jest')
+  const peerOptEdge = tsJest.edgesOut.get('jest-util')
+  t.equal(peerOptEdge.to.version, '29.0.0',
+    'ts-jest peerOptional jest-util resolved to @29')
+
+  // jest-util@28 nested under expect (incompatible with root @29)
+  const expectNode = [...tree.inventory.query('name', 'expect')][0]
+  t.equal(expectNode?.children?.get('jest-util')?.version, '28.0.0',
+    'jest-util@28 nested under expect')
+})
+
+t.test('peerOptional skips dedupe shortcut when update.names includes the dep', async t => {
+  // Same scenario as above, but with update: { names: ['jest-util'] }.
+  // skipExistingShortcut=true so #findHoistableNode is NOT called;
+  // #nodeFromEdge fetches from registry, getting jest-util@30 (latest matching ^29||^30).
+  const registry = createRegistry(t, false)
+
+  const jestPack = registry.packument({
+    name: 'jest',
+    version: '29.0.0',
+    dependencies: { 'jest-util': '^29.0.0' },
+  })
+  await registry.package({ manifest: registry.manifest({ name: 'jest', packuments: [jestPack] }) })
+
+  const tsJestPack = registry.packument({
+    name: 'ts-jest',
+    version: '29.0.0',
+    peerDependencies: { jest: '^29.0.0', 'jest-util': '^29.0.0 || ^30.0.0' },
+    peerDependenciesMeta: { 'jest-util': { optional: true } },
+  })
+  await registry.package({ manifest: registry.manifest({ name: 'ts-jest', packuments: [tsJestPack] }) })
+
+  const expectPack = registry.packument({
+    name: 'expect',
+    version: '28.0.0',
+    dependencies: { 'jest-util': '^28.0.0' },
+  })
+  await registry.package({ manifest: registry.manifest({ name: 'expect', packuments: [expectPack] }) })
+
+  const atTypesPack = registry.packument({
+    name: '@types/jest',
+    version: '28.0.0',
+    dependencies: { expect: '^28.0.0' },
+  })
+  await registry.package({ manifest: registry.manifest({ name: '@types/jest', packuments: [atTypesPack] }) })
+
+  const jestUtilPacks = registry.packuments(['28.0.0', '29.0.0', '30.0.0'], 'jest-util')
+  await registry.package({ manifest: registry.manifest({ name: 'jest-util', packuments: jestUtilPacks }), times: 3 })
+
+  const path = t.testdir({
+    'package.json': JSON.stringify({
+      dependencies: {
+        jest: '^29.0.0',
+        'ts-jest': '^29.0.0',
+        '@types/jest': '^28.0.0',
+      },
+    }),
+  })
+
+  const arb = newArb(path)
+  const tree = await arb.buildIdealTree({ update: { names: ['jest-util'] } })
+
+  // With skipExistingShortcut=true, #nodeFromEdge fetches from registry
+  // so jest-util@30 (latest matching ^29||^30) is used instead of deduping @29
+  const tsJest = tree.children.get('ts-jest')
+  const peerOptEdge = tsJest.edgesOut.get('jest-util')
+  t.equal(peerOptEdge.to?.version, '30.0.0', 'peerOptional jest-util refetched to @30, not deduped to @29')
+})
+
 t.test('overrides with bundledDependencies', async t => {
   t.test('does not infinite loop with bundledDependencies and overrides', async t => {
     // https://github.com/npm/cli/issues/9227