diff --git a/packages/react-native/Libraries/DOM/Nodes/ReadOnlyCharacterData.js b/packages/react-native/Libraries/DOM/Nodes/ReadOnlyCharacterData.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6f3fb0f4ad7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/react-native/Libraries/DOM/Nodes/ReadOnlyCharacterData.js
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) Meta Platforms, Inc. and affiliates.
+ *
+ * This source code is licensed under the MIT license found in the
+ * LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
+ *
+ * @format
+ * @flow strict-local
+ */
+
+// flowlint unsafe-getters-setters:off
+
+import type ReadOnlyElement from './ReadOnlyElement';
+
+import {getFabricUIManager} from '../../ReactNative/FabricUIManager';
+import ReadOnlyNode, {getShadowNode} from './ReadOnlyNode';
+import {getElementSibling} from './Utilities/Traversal';
+import nullthrows from 'nullthrows';
+
+export default class ReadOnlyCharacterData extends ReadOnlyNode {
+  get nextElementSibling(): ReadOnlyElement | null {
+    return getElementSibling(this, 'next');
+  }
+
+  get previousElementSibling(): ReadOnlyElement | null {
+    return getElementSibling(this, 'previous');
+  }
+
+  get data(): string {
+    const shadowNode = getShadowNode(this);
+
+    if (shadowNode != null) {
+      return nullthrows(getFabricUIManager()).getTextContent(shadowNode);
+    }
+
+    return '';
+  }
+
+  get length(): number {
+    return this.data.length;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * @override
+   */
+  get textContent(): string | null {
+    return this.data;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * @override
+   */
+  get nodeValue(): string {
+    return this.data;
+  }
+
+  substringData(offset: number, count: number): string {
+    const data = this.data;
+    if (offset < 0) {
+      throw new TypeError(
+        `Failed to execute 'substringData' on 'CharacterData': The offset ${offset} is negative.`,
+      );
+    }
+    if (offset > data.length) {
+      throw new TypeError(
+        `Failed to execute 'substringData' on 'CharacterData': The offset ${offset} is greater than the node's length (${data.length}).`,
+      );
+    }
+    let adjustedCount = count < 0 || count > data.length ? data.length : count;
+    return data.substr(offset, adjustedCount);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/react-native/Libraries/DOM/Nodes/ReadOnlyElement.js b/packages/react-native/Libraries/DOM/Nodes/ReadOnlyElement.js
index ca60bdf1149..163deca45fd 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/Libraries/DOM/Nodes/ReadOnlyElement.js
+++ b/packages/react-native/Libraries/DOM/Nodes/ReadOnlyElement.js
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import {getFabricUIManager} from '../../ReactNative/FabricUIManager';
 import DOMRect from '../Geometry/DOMRect';
 import {createHTMLCollection} from '../OldStyleCollections/HTMLCollection';
 import ReadOnlyNode, {getChildNodes, getShadowNode} from './ReadOnlyNode';
+import {getElementSibling} from './Utilities/Traversal';
 import nullthrows from 'nullthrows';
 
 export default class ReadOnlyElement extends ReadOnlyNode {
@@ -68,14 +69,7 @@ export default class ReadOnlyElement extends ReadOnlyNode {
   }
 
   get nextElementSibling(): ReadOnlyElement | null {
-    const [siblings, position] = getElementSiblingsAndPosition(this);
-
-    if (position === siblings.length - 1) {
-      // this node is the last child of its parent, so there is no next sibling.
-      return null;
-    }
-
-    return siblings[position + 1];
+    return getElementSibling(this, 'next');
   }
 
   get nodeName(): string {
@@ -93,14 +87,7 @@ export default class ReadOnlyElement extends ReadOnlyNode {
   set nodeValue(value: string): void {}
 
   get previousElementSibling(): ReadOnlyElement | null {
-    const [siblings, position] = getElementSiblingsAndPosition(this);
-
-    if (position === 0) {
-      // this node is the last child of its parent, so there is no next sibling.
-      return null;
-    }
-
-    return siblings[position - 1];
+    return getElementSibling(this, 'previous');
   }
 
   get scrollHeight(): number {
@@ -161,22 +148,3 @@ function getChildElements(node: ReadOnlyNode): $ReadOnlyArray<ReadOnlyElement> {
     childNode => childNode instanceof ReadOnlyElement,
   );
 }
-
-export function getElementSiblingsAndPosition(
-  element: ReadOnlyElement,
-): [$ReadOnlyArray<ReadOnlyElement>, number] {
-  const parent = element.parentNode;
-  if (parent == null) {
-    // This node is the root or it's disconnected.
-    return [[element], 0];
-  }
-
-  const siblings = getChildElements(parent);
-  const position = siblings.indexOf(element);
-
-  if (position === -1) {
-    throw new TypeError("Missing node in parent's child node list");
-  }
-
-  return [siblings, position];
-}
diff --git a/packages/react-native/Libraries/DOM/Nodes/ReadOnlyText.js b/packages/react-native/Libraries/DOM/Nodes/ReadOnlyText.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..91131f7298b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/react-native/Libraries/DOM/Nodes/ReadOnlyText.js
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) Meta Platforms, Inc. and affiliates.
+ *
+ * This source code is licensed under the MIT license found in the
+ * LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
+ *
+ * @format
+ * @flow strict-local
+ */
+
+// flowlint unsafe-getters-setters:off
+
+import ReadOnlyCharacterData from './ReadOnlyCharacterData';
+import ReadOnlyNode from './ReadOnlyNode';
+
+export default class ReadOnlyText extends ReadOnlyCharacterData {
+  /**
+   * @override
+   */
+  get nodeName(): string {
+    return '#text';
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * @override
+   */
+  get nodeType(): number {
+    return ReadOnlyNode.TEXT_NODE;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/react-native/Libraries/DOM/Nodes/Utilities/Traversal.js b/packages/react-native/Libraries/DOM/Nodes/Utilities/Traversal.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..083d6bfafe7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/react-native/Libraries/DOM/Nodes/Utilities/Traversal.js
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) Meta Platforms, Inc. and affiliates.
+ *
+ * This source code is licensed under the MIT license found in the
+ * LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
+ *
+ * @format
+ * @flow strict-local
+ */
+
+import type ReadOnlyElement from '../ReadOnlyElement';
+import type ReadOnlyNode from '../ReadOnlyNode';
+
+import {getChildNodes} from '../ReadOnlyNode';
+
+// We initialize this lazily to avoid a require cycle
+// (`ReadOnlyElement` also depends on `Traversal`).
+let ReadOnlyElementClass: Class<ReadOnlyElement>;
+
+export function getElementSibling(
+  node: ReadOnlyNode,
+  direction: 'next' | 'previous',
+): ReadOnlyElement | null {
+  const parent = node.parentNode;
+  if (parent == null) {
+    // This node is the root or it's disconnected.
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  const childNodes = getChildNodes(parent);
+
+  const startPosition = childNodes.indexOf(node);
+  if (startPosition === -1) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  const increment = direction === 'next' ? 1 : -1;
+
+  let position = startPosition + increment;
+
+  if (ReadOnlyElementClass == null) {
+    // We initialize this lazily to avoid a require cycle.
+    ReadOnlyElementClass = require('../ReadOnlyElement').default;
+  }
+
+  while (
+    childNodes[position] != null &&
+    !(childNodes[position] instanceof ReadOnlyElementClass)
+  ) {
+    position = position + increment;
+  }
+
+  return childNodes[position] ?? null;
+}
diff --git a/packages/react-native/Libraries/DOM/Nodes/__tests__/ReadOnlyText-test.js b/packages/react-native/Libraries/DOM/Nodes/__tests__/ReadOnlyText-test.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4dee9d6b33f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/react-native/Libraries/DOM/Nodes/__tests__/ReadOnlyText-test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,407 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) Meta Platforms, Inc. and affiliates.
+ *
+ * This source code is licensed under the MIT license found in the
+ * LICENSE file in the root directory of this source tree.
+ *
+ * @flow strict-local
+ * @format
+ * @oncall react_native
+ */
+
+import type ReactNativeElement from '../ReactNativeElement';
+
+import invariant from 'invariant';
+import nullthrows from 'nullthrows';
+import * as React from 'react';
+import {act} from 'react-test-renderer';
+
+jest.mock('../../../ReactNative/FabricUIManager', () =>
+  require('../../../ReactNative/__mocks__/FabricUIManager'),
+);
+
+const MOCK_CONTAINER_TAG = 11;
+
+describe('ReadOnlyText', () => {
+  let ReactFabric;
+  let NativeText;
+  let ReadOnlyText;
+  let ReadOnlyNode;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    jest.resetModules();
+
+    // Installs the global `nativeFabricUIManager` pointing to the mock.
+    require('../../../ReactNative/__mocks__/FabricUIManager');
+    require('../../../ReactNative/ReactNativeFeatureFlags').enableAccessToHostTreeInFabric =
+      () => true;
+
+    ReactFabric = require('../../../Renderer/shims/ReactFabric');
+    NativeText = require('../../../Text/TextNativeComponent').NativeText;
+    ReadOnlyText = require('../ReadOnlyText').default;
+    ReadOnlyNode = require('../ReadOnlyNode').default;
+  });
+
+  it('should be used to create public text instances when the `enableAccessToHostTreeInFabric` feature flag is enabled', () => {
+    let lastParentNode;
+
+    act(() => {
+      ReactFabric.render(
+        <NativeText
+          ref={node => {
+            lastParentNode = node;
+          }}>
+          Some text
+        </NativeText>,
+        MOCK_CONTAINER_TAG,
+      );
+    });
+
+    // $FlowExpectedError[incompatible-type]
+    const parentNode: ReadOnlyNode = nullthrows(lastParentNode);
+    const textNode = parentNode.childNodes[0];
+
+    expect(textNode).toBeInstanceOf(ReadOnlyText);
+  });
+
+  describe('extends `ReadOnlyNode`', () => {
+    describe('nodeName', () => {
+      it('returns "#text"', () => {
+        let lastParentNode;
+
+        act(() => {
+          ReactFabric.render(
+            <NativeText
+              ref={node => {
+                lastParentNode = node;
+              }}>
+              Some text
+            </NativeText>,
+            MOCK_CONTAINER_TAG,
+          );
+        });
+
+        // $FlowExpectedError[incompatible-type]
+        const parentNode: ReadOnlyNode = nullthrows(lastParentNode);
+        const textNode = parentNode.childNodes[0];
+
+        expect(textNode.nodeName).toBe('#text');
+      });
+    });
+
+    describe('nodeType', () => {
+      it('returns ReadOnlyNode.TEXT_NODE', () => {
+        let lastParentNode;
+
+        act(() => {
+          ReactFabric.render(
+            <NativeText
+              ref={node => {
+                lastParentNode = node;
+              }}>
+              Some text
+            </NativeText>,
+            MOCK_CONTAINER_TAG,
+          );
+        });
+
+        // $FlowExpectedError[incompatible-type]
+        const parentNode: ReadOnlyNode = nullthrows(lastParentNode);
+        const textNode = parentNode.childNodes[0];
+
+        expect(textNode.nodeType).toBe(ReadOnlyNode.TEXT_NODE);
+      });
+    });
+
+    describe('nodeValue / textContent', () => {
+      it('returns the string data contained in the node', () => {
+        let lastParentNode;
+
+        act(() => {
+          ReactFabric.render(
+            <NativeText
+              ref={node => {
+                lastParentNode = node;
+              }}>
+              Some text
+            </NativeText>,
+            MOCK_CONTAINER_TAG,
+          );
+        });
+
+        // $FlowExpectedError[incompatible-type]
+        const parentNode: ReadOnlyNode = nullthrows(lastParentNode);
+        const textNode = parentNode.childNodes[0];
+
+        expect(textNode.nodeValue).toBe('Some text');
+        expect(textNode.textContent).toBe('Some text');
+      });
+    });
+
+    describe('traversal', () => {
+      it('only preserves text nodes when their contents do not change', () => {
+        let lastParentElement;
+        let lastChildElementA;
+
+        act(() => {
+          ReactFabric.render(
+            <NativeText
+              key="parent"
+              ref={element => {
+                lastParentElement = element;
+              }}>
+              Text A
+              <NativeText
+                key="childA"
+                ref={element => {
+                  lastChildElementA = element;
+                }}
+              />
+              Text B
+            </NativeText>,
+            MOCK_CONTAINER_TAG,
+          );
+        });
+
+        // $FlowExpectedError[incompatible-type]
+        const parentElement: ReactNativeElement = nullthrows(lastParentElement);
+        // $FlowExpectedError[incompatible-type]
+        const childElementA: ReactNativeElement = nullthrows(lastChildElementA);
+
+        // Get text nodes and refine them as text nodes for Flow
+        const childTextA = parentElement.childNodes[0];
+        invariant(
+          childTextA instanceof ReadOnlyText,
+          'expected instance of ReadOnlyText',
+        );
+        expect(childTextA.textContent).toBe('Text A');
+        const childTextB = parentElement.childNodes[2];
+        invariant(
+          childTextB instanceof ReadOnlyText,
+          'expected instance of ReadOnlyText',
+        );
+        expect(childTextB.textContent).toBe('Text B');
+
+        // Validate structure
+        expect(parentElement.childNodes.length).toBe(3);
+        expect(parentElement.childNodes[0]).toBe(childTextA);
+        expect(parentElement.childNodes[1]).toBe(childElementA);
+        expect(parentElement.childNodes[2]).toBe(childTextB);
+
+        // Change contents of the second text only
+        act(() => {
+          ReactFabric.render(
+            <NativeText
+              key="parent"
+              ref={element => {
+                lastParentElement = element;
+              }}>
+              Text A
+              <NativeText
+                key="childA"
+                ref={element => {
+                  lastChildElementA = element;
+                }}
+              />
+              Text B modified
+            </NativeText>,
+            MOCK_CONTAINER_TAG,
+          );
+        });
+
+        expect(parentElement.childNodes.length).toBe(3);
+        expect(parentElement.childNodes[0]).toBe(childTextA);
+        expect(parentElement.childNodes[1]).toBe(childElementA);
+        expect(parentElement.childNodes[2]).not.toBe(childTextB);
+        expect(parentElement.childNodes[2]).toBeInstanceOf(ReadOnlyText);
+        expect(parentElement.childNodes[2]).toMatchObject({
+          data: 'Text B modified',
+        });
+        expect(childTextB.isConnected).toBe(false);
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('extends `ReadOnlyCharacterData`', () => {
+    describe('data / length', () => {
+      it('returns the string data and its length, respectively', () => {
+        let lastParentNode;
+
+        act(() => {
+          ReactFabric.render(
+            <NativeText
+              ref={node => {
+                lastParentNode = node;
+              }}>
+              Some text
+            </NativeText>,
+            MOCK_CONTAINER_TAG,
+          );
+        });
+
+        // $FlowExpectedError[incompatible-type]
+        const parentNode: ReadOnlyNode = nullthrows(lastParentNode);
+        // $FlowExpectedError[incompatible-type]
+        const textNode: ReadOnlyText = parentNode.childNodes[0];
+
+        expect(textNode.data).toBe('Some text');
+        expect(textNode.length).toBe('Some text'.length);
+      });
+    });
+
+    describe('previousElementSibling / nextElementSibling', () => {
+      it('return updated relative elements', () => {
+        let lastParentElement;
+        let lastChildElementA;
+        let lastChildElementB;
+        let lastChildElementC;
+
+        act(() => {
+          ReactFabric.render(
+            <NativeText
+              key="parent"
+              ref={element => {
+                lastParentElement = element;
+              }}>
+              Text A
+              <NativeText
+                key="childA"
+                ref={element => {
+                  lastChildElementA = element;
+                }}
+              />
+              Text B
+              <NativeText
+                key="childB"
+                ref={element => {
+                  lastChildElementB = element;
+                }}
+              />
+              Text C
+              <NativeText
+                key="childC"
+                ref={element => {
+                  lastChildElementC = element;
+                }}
+              />
+              Text D
+            </NativeText>,
+            MOCK_CONTAINER_TAG,
+          );
+        });
+
+        // $FlowExpectedError[incompatible-type]
+        const parentElement: ReactNativeElement = nullthrows(lastParentElement);
+        // $FlowExpectedError[incompatible-type]
+        const childElementA: ReactNativeElement = nullthrows(lastChildElementA);
+        // $FlowExpectedError[incompatible-type]
+        const childElementB: ReactNativeElement = nullthrows(lastChildElementB);
+        // $FlowExpectedError[incompatible-type]
+        const childElementC: ReactNativeElement = nullthrows(lastChildElementC);
+
+        // Get text nodes and refine them as text nodes for Flow
+        const childTextA = parentElement.childNodes[0];
+        invariant(
+          childTextA instanceof ReadOnlyText,
+          'expected instance of ReadOnlyText',
+        );
+        const childTextB = parentElement.childNodes[2];
+        invariant(
+          childTextB instanceof ReadOnlyText,
+          'expected instance of ReadOnlyText',
+        );
+        const childTextC = parentElement.childNodes[4];
+        invariant(
+          childTextC instanceof ReadOnlyText,
+          'expected instance of ReadOnlyText',
+        );
+        const childTextD = parentElement.childNodes[6];
+        invariant(
+          childTextD instanceof ReadOnlyText,
+          'expected instance of ReadOnlyText',
+        );
+
+        // Validate structure
+        expect(parentElement.childNodes.length).toBe(7);
+        expect(parentElement.childNodes[0]).toBe(childTextA);
+        expect(parentElement.childNodes[1]).toBe(childElementA);
+        expect(parentElement.childNodes[2]).toBe(childTextB);
+        expect(parentElement.childNodes[3]).toBe(childElementB);
+        expect(parentElement.childNodes[4]).toBe(childTextC);
+        expect(parentElement.childNodes[5]).toBe(childElementC);
+        expect(parentElement.childNodes[6]).toBe(childTextD);
+
+        expect(childTextA.previousElementSibling).toBe(null);
+        expect(childTextA.nextElementSibling).toBe(childElementA);
+
+        expect(childTextB.previousElementSibling).toBe(childElementA);
+        expect(childTextB.nextElementSibling).toBe(childElementB);
+
+        expect(childTextC.previousElementSibling).toBe(childElementB);
+        expect(childTextC.nextElementSibling).toBe(childElementC);
+
+        expect(childTextD.previousElementSibling).toBe(childElementC);
+        expect(childTextD.nextElementSibling).toBe(null);
+      });
+    });
+
+    describe('substringData', () => {
+      it('returns a slice of the text content', () => {
+        let lastParentElement;
+
+        act(() => {
+          ReactFabric.render(
+            <NativeText
+              key="parent"
+              ref={element => {
+                lastParentElement = element;
+              }}>
+              Text A
+            </NativeText>,
+            MOCK_CONTAINER_TAG,
+          );
+        });
+
+        // $FlowExpectedError[incompatible-type]
+        const parentElement: ReactNativeElement = nullthrows(lastParentElement);
+
+        // Get text nodes and refine them as text nodes for Flow
+        const childTextA = parentElement.childNodes[0];
+        invariant(
+          childTextA instanceof ReadOnlyText,
+          'expected instance of ReadOnlyText',
+        );
+
+        expect(childTextA.substringData(0, 1)).toBe('T');
+        expect(childTextA.substringData(0, 5)).toBe('Text ');
+        // Count > length
+        expect(childTextA.substringData(0, 10)).toBe('Text A');
+        // Count = length
+        expect(childTextA.substringData(0, 6)).toBe('Text A');
+        expect(childTextA.substringData(0, 0)).toBe('');
+        // Negative count
+        expect(childTextA.substringData(0, -1)).toBe('Text A');
+        expect(childTextA.substringData(0, -10)).toBe('Text A');
+
+        expect(childTextA.substringData(1, 3)).toBe('ext');
+        expect(childTextA.substringData(5, 1)).toBe('A');
+        // Offset + count > length
+        expect(childTextA.substringData(5, 2)).toBe('A');
+        // Offset = length
+        expect(childTextA.substringData(6, 1)).toBe('');
+        // Offset = length & negative count
+        expect(childTextA.substringData(6, -1)).toBe('');
+        // Negative count
+        expect(childTextA.substringData(5, -1)).toBe('A');
+
+        // Out of bounds offset
+        expect(() => {
+          childTextA.substringData(-1, 0);
+        }).toThrow();
+        expect(() => {
+          childTextA.substringData(7, 0);
+        }).toThrow();
+      });
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/react-native/Libraries/ReactNative/ReactFabricPublicInstance/ReactFabricPublicInstance.js b/packages/react-native/Libraries/ReactNative/ReactFabricPublicInstance/ReactFabricPublicInstance.js
index f8722df1d60..71730351f2a 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/Libraries/ReactNative/ReactFabricPublicInstance/ReactFabricPublicInstance.js
+++ b/packages/react-native/Libraries/ReactNative/ReactFabricPublicInstance/ReactFabricPublicInstance.js
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
  */
 
 import type ReactNativeElement from '../../DOM/Nodes/ReactNativeElement';
+import type ReadOnlyText from '../../DOM/Nodes/ReadOnlyText';
 import typeof ReactFabricType from '../../Renderer/shims/ReactFabric';
 import type {
   InternalInstanceHandle,
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ import ReactNativeFeatureFlags from '../ReactNativeFeatureFlags';
 let PublicInstanceClass:
   | Class<ReactFabricHostComponent>
   | Class<ReactNativeElement>;
+let ReadOnlyTextClass: Class<ReadOnlyText>;
 
 // Lazy loaded to avoid evaluating the module when using the legacy renderer.
 let ReactFabric: ReactFabricType;
@@ -46,11 +48,14 @@ export function createPublicInstance(
   return new PublicInstanceClass(tag, viewConfig, internalInstanceHandle);
 }
 
-export function createPublicTextInstance(internalInstanceHandle: mixed): {} {
-  // React will call this method to create text instances but we'll return an
-  // empty object for now. These instances are only created lazily when
-  // traversing the tree, and that's not enabled yet.
-  return {};
+export function createPublicTextInstance(
+  internalInstanceHandle: InternalInstanceHandle,
+): ReadOnlyText {
+  if (ReadOnlyTextClass == null) {
+    ReadOnlyTextClass = require('../../DOM/Nodes/ReadOnlyText').default;
+  }
+
+  return new ReadOnlyTextClass(internalInstanceHandle);
 }
 
 export function getNativeTagFromPublicInstance(
diff --git a/packages/react-native/ReactCommon/react/renderer/uimanager/UIManagerBinding.cpp b/packages/react-native/ReactCommon/react/renderer/uimanager/UIManagerBinding.cpp
index e4398f865c1..885c88da4ab 100644
--- a/packages/react-native/ReactCommon/react/renderer/uimanager/UIManagerBinding.cpp
+++ b/packages/react-native/ReactCommon/react/renderer/uimanager/UIManagerBinding.cpp
@@ -903,6 +903,9 @@ jsi::Value UIManagerBinding::get(
     // concatenates all the text contents. Otherwise, it returns an empty
     // string.
 
+    // This is also used to access the text content of text nodes, which does
+    // not need any traversal.
+
     // getTextContent(shadowNode: ShadowNode): string
     return jsi::Function::createFromHostFunction(
         runtime,