diff --git a/hydra/image.py b/hydra/image.py
index 9d7eebe..5df4562 100644
--- a/hydra/image.py
+++ b/hydra/image.py
@@ -142,6 +142,8 @@ def kernel_image(root):
     candidates = [root_path(root, 'boot/' + prefix + version)
                   for prefix in ('kernel-', 'vmlinuz-')]
     images = [path for path in candidates if path.is_file()]
+    if len(images) == 2 and images[0].samefile(images[1]):
+        return images[1]  # Stable installer/GRUB vmlinuz alias for Gentoo kernel-bin.
     if len(images) != 1:
         raise ImageError('Installed modules require exactly one matching boot kernel image')
     return images[0]
@@ -256,6 +258,10 @@ def configure_rootfs(root, source):
         if not (source / name).is_file():
             raise ImageError(f'Required committed runtime/installer asset is missing: {name}')
     version = kernel_version(root)
+    kernel = kernel_image(root)
+    alias = root_path(root, 'boot/vmlinuz-' + version)
+    if not alias.exists():
+        alias.symlink_to(kernel.name)
     sanitize_rootfs(root)
     copy_overlay(root, source / 'image/rootfs')
     write(root, 'etc/hydra/live-mode/dracut.conf', (source / 'image/dracut.conf').read_text())
diff --git a/image/README.md b/image/README.md
index ea6fc9e..cf2a926 100644
--- a/image/README.md
+++ b/image/README.md
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ scripts/hydra-build fetch
 scripts/hydra-build prepare
 scripts/hydra-build packages --pretend
 scripts/hydra-build packages
+scripts/hydra-build rootfs
+scripts/hydra-build iso
 scripts/hydra-build status
 ```
 
@@ -34,5 +36,12 @@ for installed-system updates. Rolling binhost contents can change; resulting
 versions/USE are recorded without claiming bit-identical output. The pinned
 service-keyring hash may need deliberate review when Gentoo rotates keys.
 
-`rootfs` and `iso` are reserved assembly commands and currently return an
-explicit error until the live-image assembly implementation is integrated.
+`rootfs` exports the dedicated builder into a private intermediate and assembles
+an isolated sanitized payload, generic live initramfs and squashfs. `iso` checks
+those artifacts and emits the UEFI `HYDRA_OS` ISO, SHA256 and build manifest in
+`build/artifacts/`. The working builder is retained for package retries. The
+installed Gentoo repository uses the standard rsync backend with signed
+metamanifest verification; the builder continues to use its pinned snapshot.
+QEMU and remote-viewer retain local patches and are excluded from upstream
+binary packages on installed updates. Disposable boot/install validation is
+required before treating an emitted ISO as release ready.
diff --git a/image/configure-rootfs.sh b/image/configure-rootfs.sh
index c27094b..58f66aa 100755
--- a/image/configure-rootfs.sh
+++ b/image/configure-rootfs.sh
@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@ if [[ $# != 1 || "$1" != /hydra-output/rootfs ]]; then
 fi
 root=$1
 python3 /hydra-source/hydra/image.py configure "$root" --source /hydra-source
+# This is a separate rootfs inside the assembly container, never the host root.
+mount --bind /dev "$root/dev"
+mount -t proc proc "$root/proc"
+mount --bind /sys "$root/sys"
+trap 'umount "$root/sys" "$root/proc" "$root/dev"' EXIT
 for group in wheel kvm video render audio; do
     chroot "$root" getent group "$group" >/dev/null || chroot "$root" groupadd -r "$group"
 done
@@ -24,10 +29,5 @@ chroot "$root" chmod 0750 /usr/libexec/qemu-bridge-helper
 chroot "$root" visudo --check
 systemctl --root="$root" enable NetworkManager.service greetd.service hydra-network.service hydra-dnsmasq.service hydra-bridge-permissions.service getty@tty2.service serial-getty@ttyS0.service
 systemctl --root="$root" set-default graphical.target
-# This is a separate rootfs inside the assembly container, never the host root.
-mount --bind /dev "$root/dev"
-mount -t proc proc "$root/proc"
-mount --bind /sys "$root/sys"
-trap 'umount "$root/sys" "$root/proc" "$root/dev"' EXIT
 kernel=$(python3 /hydra-source/hydra/image.py kernel "$root")
 chroot "$root" dracut --force --no-hostonly --no-hostonly-cmdline --conf /etc/hydra/live-mode/dracut.conf --confdir /etc/hydra/live-mode/dracut.conf.d --add dmsquash-live /boot/initramfs-live.img "$kernel"
diff --git a/image/rootfs/etc/portage/repos.conf/gentoo.conf b/image/rootfs/etc/portage/repos.conf/gentoo.conf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..52fe413
--- /dev/null
+++ b/image/rootfs/etc/portage/repos.conf/gentoo.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+[gentoo]
+location = /var/db/repos/gentoo
+sync-type = rsync
+sync-uri = rsync://rsync.gentoo.org/gentoo-portage
+auto-sync = yes
+sync-rsync-verify-metamanifest = yes
+sync-rsync-verify-max-age = 3
+sync-openpgp-key-package = sec-keys/openpgp-keys-gentoo-release
+sync-openpgp-key-path = /usr/share/openpgp-keys/gentoo-release.asc
+sync-openpgp-keyserver = hkps://keys.gentoo.org
+sync-webrsync-verify-signature = yes
diff --git a/tests/test_image.py b/tests/test_image.py
index 7aade23..7c6bed8 100644
--- a/tests/test_image.py
+++ b/tests/test_image.py
@@ -46,6 +46,37 @@ class ImageTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(image.kernel_version(self.root), version)
         self.assertEqual(image.kernel_image(self.root), kernel)
 
+    def test_configured_real_kernel_layout_is_accepted_by_installer(self):
+        from hydra.installer import select_kernel
+        version = '6.18.54-gentoo-dist-bin'
+        (self.root / 'lib/modules' / version).mkdir(parents=True)
+        kernel = self.file('boot/kernel-' + version, 'real Gentoo kernel')
+        image.configure_rootfs(self.root, Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1])
+        self.assertEqual(select_kernel(self.root, None), version)
+        alias = self.root / ('boot/vmlinuz-' + version)
+        self.assertTrue(alias.samefile(kernel))
+        self.assertEqual(image.kernel_image(self.root), alias)
+
+    def test_exported_repository_sync_works_with_extracted_tree(self):
+        import configparser
+        self.kernel()
+        self.file('etc/portage/repos.conf/gentoo.conf',
+                  '[gentoo]\nlocation=/var/db/repos/gentoo\nsync-type=git\nauto-sync=no\n')
+        self.file('var/db/repos/gentoo/profiles/repo_name', 'gentoo')
+        image.configure_rootfs(self.root, Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1])
+        config = configparser.ConfigParser()
+        config.read(self.root / 'etc/portage/repos.conf/gentoo.conf')
+        repo = config['gentoo']
+        self.assertEqual(repo['sync-type'], 'rsync')
+        self.assertEqual(repo['sync-uri'], 'rsync://rsync.gentoo.org/gentoo-portage')
+        self.assertEqual(repo['auto-sync'], 'yes')
+        self.assertEqual(repo['sync-rsync-verify-metamanifest'], 'yes')
+        self.assertEqual(repo['sync-openpgp-key-path'], '/usr/share/openpgp-keys/gentoo-release.asc')
+        self.assertFalse((self.root / 'var/db/repos/gentoo/.git').exists())
+        source = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
+        builder_config = (source / 'image/portage/repos.conf/gentoo.conf').read_text()
+        self.assertIn('auto-sync = no', builder_config)
+
     def test_conflicting_kernel_images_refused(self):
         version = self.kernel()
         self.file('boot/kernel-' + version, 'different kernel')