diff --git a/src/_pytest/assertion/__init__.py b/src/_pytest/assertion/__init__.py
index 29c25d035..480a26ad8 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/assertion/__init__.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/assertion/__init__.py
@@ -88,13 +88,13 @@ class AssertionState:
 
 def install_importhook(config: Config) -> rewrite.AssertionRewritingHook:
     """Try to install the rewrite hook, raise SystemError if it fails."""
-    config._store[assertstate_key] = AssertionState(config, "rewrite")
-    config._store[assertstate_key].hook = hook = rewrite.AssertionRewritingHook(config)
+    config.stash[assertstate_key] = AssertionState(config, "rewrite")
+    config.stash[assertstate_key].hook = hook = rewrite.AssertionRewritingHook(config)
     sys.meta_path.insert(0, hook)
-    config._store[assertstate_key].trace("installed rewrite import hook")
+    config.stash[assertstate_key].trace("installed rewrite import hook")
 
     def undo() -> None:
-        hook = config._store[assertstate_key].hook
+        hook = config.stash[assertstate_key].hook
         if hook is not None and hook in sys.meta_path:
             sys.meta_path.remove(hook)
 
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ def pytest_collection(session: "Session") -> None:
     # This hook is only called when test modules are collected
     # so for example not in the managing process of pytest-xdist
     # (which does not collect test modules).
-    assertstate = session.config._store.get(assertstate_key, None)
+    assertstate = session.config.stash.get(assertstate_key, None)
     if assertstate:
         if assertstate.hook is not None:
             assertstate.hook.set_session(session)
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ def pytest_runtest_protocol(item: Item) -> Generator[None, None, None]:
 
 
 def pytest_sessionfinish(session: "Session") -> None:
-    assertstate = session.config._store.get(assertstate_key, None)
+    assertstate = session.config.stash.get(assertstate_key, None)
     if assertstate:
         if assertstate.hook is not None:
             assertstate.hook.set_session(None)
diff --git a/src/_pytest/assertion/rewrite.py b/src/_pytest/assertion/rewrite.py
index 3c8ffde4e..8c85240ef 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/assertion/rewrite.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/assertion/rewrite.py
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ class AssertionRewritingHook(importlib.abc.MetaPathFinder, importlib.abc.Loader)
     ) -> Optional[importlib.machinery.ModuleSpec]:
         if self._writing_pyc:
             return None
-        state = self.config._store[assertstate_key]
+        state = self.config.stash[assertstate_key]
         if self._early_rewrite_bailout(name, state):
             return None
         state.trace("find_module called for: %s" % name)
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ class AssertionRewritingHook(importlib.abc.MetaPathFinder, importlib.abc.Loader)
         assert module.__spec__ is not None
         assert module.__spec__.origin is not None
         fn = Path(module.__spec__.origin)
-        state = self.config._store[assertstate_key]
+        state = self.config.stash[assertstate_key]
 
         self._rewritten_names.add(module.__name__)
 
diff --git a/src/_pytest/faulthandler.py b/src/_pytest/faulthandler.py
index fc2471f39..aaee307ff 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/faulthandler.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/faulthandler.py
@@ -27,9 +27,9 @@ def pytest_configure(config: Config) -> None:
     import faulthandler
 
     stderr_fd_copy = os.dup(get_stderr_fileno())
-    config._store[fault_handler_stderr_key] = open(stderr_fd_copy, "w")
-    config._store[fault_handler_originally_enabled_key] = faulthandler.is_enabled()
-    faulthandler.enable(file=config._store[fault_handler_stderr_key])
+    config.stash[fault_handler_stderr_key] = open(stderr_fd_copy, "w")
+    config.stash[fault_handler_originally_enabled_key] = faulthandler.is_enabled()
+    faulthandler.enable(file=config.stash[fault_handler_stderr_key])
 
 
 def pytest_unconfigure(config: Config) -> None:
@@ -37,10 +37,10 @@ def pytest_unconfigure(config: Config) -> None:
 
     faulthandler.disable()
     # Close the dup file installed during pytest_configure.
-    if fault_handler_stderr_key in config._store:
-        config._store[fault_handler_stderr_key].close()
-        del config._store[fault_handler_stderr_key]
-    if config._store.get(fault_handler_originally_enabled_key, False):
+    if fault_handler_stderr_key in config.stash:
+        config.stash[fault_handler_stderr_key].close()
+        del config.stash[fault_handler_stderr_key]
+    if config.stash.get(fault_handler_originally_enabled_key, False):
         # Re-enable the faulthandler if it was originally enabled.
         faulthandler.enable(file=get_stderr_fileno())
 
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ def get_timeout_config_value(config: Config) -> float:
 @pytest.hookimpl(hookwrapper=True, trylast=True)
 def pytest_runtest_protocol(item: Item) -> Generator[None, None, None]:
     timeout = get_timeout_config_value(item.config)
-    stderr = item.config._store[fault_handler_stderr_key]
+    stderr = item.config.stash[fault_handler_stderr_key]
     if timeout > 0 and stderr is not None:
         import faulthandler
 
diff --git a/src/_pytest/fixtures.py b/src/_pytest/fixtures.py
index 305ec0348..347d49003 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/fixtures.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/fixtures.py
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ def add_funcarg_pseudo_fixture_def(
             name2pseudofixturedef = None
         else:
             default: Dict[str, FixtureDef[Any]] = {}
-            name2pseudofixturedef = node._store.setdefault(
+            name2pseudofixturedef = node.stash.setdefault(
                 name2pseudofixturedef_key, default
             )
         if name2pseudofixturedef is not None and argname in name2pseudofixturedef:
diff --git a/src/_pytest/junitxml.py b/src/_pytest/junitxml.py
index d7b00cca1..6d13e89a4 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/junitxml.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/junitxml.py
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ def _warn_incompatibility_with_xunit2(
     """Emit a PytestWarning about the given fixture being incompatible with newer xunit revisions."""
     from _pytest.warning_types import PytestWarning
 
-    xml = request.config._store.get(xml_key, None)
+    xml = request.config.stash.get(xml_key, None)
     if xml is not None and xml.family not in ("xunit1", "legacy"):
         request.node.warn(
             PytestWarning(
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ def record_xml_attribute(request: FixtureRequest) -> Callable[[str, object], Non
 
     attr_func = add_attr_noop
 
-    xml = request.config._store.get(xml_key, None)
+    xml = request.config.stash.get(xml_key, None)
     if xml is not None:
         node_reporter = xml.node_reporter(request.node.nodeid)
         attr_func = node_reporter.add_attribute
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ def record_testsuite_property(request: FixtureRequest) -> Callable[[str, object]
         __tracebackhide__ = True
         _check_record_param_type("name", name)
 
-    xml = request.config._store.get(xml_key, None)
+    xml = request.config.stash.get(xml_key, None)
     if xml is not None:
         record_func = xml.add_global_property  # noqa
     return record_func
@@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ def pytest_configure(config: Config) -> None:
     # Prevent opening xmllog on worker nodes (xdist).
     if xmlpath and not hasattr(config, "workerinput"):
         junit_family = config.getini("junit_family")
-        config._store[xml_key] = LogXML(
+        config.stash[xml_key] = LogXML(
             xmlpath,
             config.option.junitprefix,
             config.getini("junit_suite_name"),
@@ -437,13 +437,13 @@ def pytest_configure(config: Config) -> None:
             junit_family,
             config.getini("junit_log_passing_tests"),
         )
-        config.pluginmanager.register(config._store[xml_key])
+        config.pluginmanager.register(config.stash[xml_key])
 
 
 def pytest_unconfigure(config: Config) -> None:
-    xml = config._store.get(xml_key, None)
+    xml = config.stash.get(xml_key, None)
     if xml:
-        del config._store[xml_key]
+        del config.stash[xml_key]
         config.pluginmanager.unregister(xml)
 
 
diff --git a/src/_pytest/logging.py b/src/_pytest/logging.py
index 376a6b31f..7ed1820bb 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/logging.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/logging.py
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ class LogCaptureFixture:
 
         :rtype: LogCaptureHandler
         """
-        return self._item._store[caplog_handler_key]
+        return self._item.stash[caplog_handler_key]
 
     def get_records(self, when: str) -> List[logging.LogRecord]:
         """Get the logging records for one of the possible test phases.
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ class LogCaptureFixture:
 
         .. versionadded:: 3.4
         """
-        return self._item._store[caplog_records_key].get(when, [])
+        return self._item.stash[caplog_records_key].get(when, [])
 
     @property
     def text(self) -> str:
@@ -694,8 +694,8 @@ class LoggingPlugin:
         ) as report_handler:
             caplog_handler.reset()
             report_handler.reset()
-            item._store[caplog_records_key][when] = caplog_handler.records
-            item._store[caplog_handler_key] = caplog_handler
+            item.stash[caplog_records_key][when] = caplog_handler.records
+            item.stash[caplog_handler_key] = caplog_handler
 
             yield
 
@@ -707,7 +707,7 @@ class LoggingPlugin:
         self.log_cli_handler.set_when("setup")
 
         empty: Dict[str, List[logging.LogRecord]] = {}
-        item._store[caplog_records_key] = empty
+        item.stash[caplog_records_key] = empty
         yield from self._runtest_for(item, "setup")
 
     @hookimpl(hookwrapper=True)
@@ -721,8 +721,8 @@ class LoggingPlugin:
         self.log_cli_handler.set_when("teardown")
 
         yield from self._runtest_for(item, "teardown")
-        del item._store[caplog_records_key]
-        del item._store[caplog_handler_key]
+        del item.stash[caplog_records_key]
+        del item.stash[caplog_handler_key]
 
     @hookimpl
     def pytest_runtest_logfinish(self) -> None:
diff --git a/src/_pytest/mark/__init__.py b/src/_pytest/mark/__init__.py
index 877b5ef1c..05dd1cdc1 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/mark/__init__.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/mark/__init__.py
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ def pytest_collection_modifyitems(items: "List[Item]", config: Config) -> None:
 
 
 def pytest_configure(config: Config) -> None:
-    config._store[old_mark_config_key] = MARK_GEN._config
+    config.stash[old_mark_config_key] = MARK_GEN._config
     MARK_GEN._config = config
 
     empty_parameterset = config.getini(EMPTY_PARAMETERSET_OPTION)
@@ -282,4 +282,4 @@ def pytest_configure(config: Config) -> None:
 
 
 def pytest_unconfigure(config: Config) -> None:
-    MARK_GEN._config = config._store.get(old_mark_config_key, None)
+    MARK_GEN._config = config.stash.get(old_mark_config_key, None)
diff --git a/src/_pytest/pastebin.py b/src/_pytest/pastebin.py
index 1ca7cc494..b33383504 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/pastebin.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/pastebin.py
@@ -37,26 +37,26 @@ def pytest_configure(config: Config) -> None:
         # when using pytest-xdist, for example.
         if tr is not None:
             # pastebin file will be UTF-8 encoded binary file.
-            config._store[pastebinfile_key] = tempfile.TemporaryFile("w+b")
+            config.stash[pastebinfile_key] = tempfile.TemporaryFile("w+b")
             oldwrite = tr._tw.write
 
             def tee_write(s, **kwargs):
                 oldwrite(s, **kwargs)
                 if isinstance(s, str):
                     s = s.encode("utf-8")
-                config._store[pastebinfile_key].write(s)
+                config.stash[pastebinfile_key].write(s)
 
             tr._tw.write = tee_write
 
 
 def pytest_unconfigure(config: Config) -> None:
-    if pastebinfile_key in config._store:
-        pastebinfile = config._store[pastebinfile_key]
+    if pastebinfile_key in config.stash:
+        pastebinfile = config.stash[pastebinfile_key]
         # Get terminal contents and delete file.
         pastebinfile.seek(0)
         sessionlog = pastebinfile.read()
         pastebinfile.close()
-        del config._store[pastebinfile_key]
+        del config.stash[pastebinfile_key]
         # Undo our patching in the terminal reporter.
         tr = config.pluginmanager.getplugin("terminalreporter")
         del tr._tw.__dict__["write"]
diff --git a/src/_pytest/skipping.py b/src/_pytest/skipping.py
index 18f9a49bc..f18716b14 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/skipping.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/skipping.py
@@ -237,16 +237,16 @@ def pytest_runtest_setup(item: Item) -> None:
     if skipped:
         raise skip.Exception(skipped.reason, _use_item_location=True)
 
-    item._store[xfailed_key] = xfailed = evaluate_xfail_marks(item)
+    item.stash[xfailed_key] = xfailed = evaluate_xfail_marks(item)
     if xfailed and not item.config.option.runxfail and not xfailed.run:
         xfail("[NOTRUN] " + xfailed.reason)
 
 
 @hookimpl(hookwrapper=True)
 def pytest_runtest_call(item: Item) -> Generator[None, None, None]:
-    xfailed = item._store.get(xfailed_key, None)
+    xfailed = item.stash.get(xfailed_key, None)
     if xfailed is None:
-        item._store[xfailed_key] = xfailed = evaluate_xfail_marks(item)
+        item.stash[xfailed_key] = xfailed = evaluate_xfail_marks(item)
 
     if xfailed and not item.config.option.runxfail and not xfailed.run:
         xfail("[NOTRUN] " + xfailed.reason)
@@ -254,16 +254,16 @@ def pytest_runtest_call(item: Item) -> Generator[None, None, None]:
     yield
 
     # The test run may have added an xfail mark dynamically.
-    xfailed = item._store.get(xfailed_key, None)
+    xfailed = item.stash.get(xfailed_key, None)
     if xfailed is None:
-        item._store[xfailed_key] = xfailed = evaluate_xfail_marks(item)
+        item.stash[xfailed_key] = xfailed = evaluate_xfail_marks(item)
 
 
 @hookimpl(hookwrapper=True)
 def pytest_runtest_makereport(item: Item, call: CallInfo[None]):
     outcome = yield
     rep = outcome.get_result()
-    xfailed = item._store.get(xfailed_key, None)
+    xfailed = item.stash.get(xfailed_key, None)
     if item.config.option.runxfail:
         pass  # don't interfere
     elif call.excinfo and isinstance(call.excinfo.value, xfail.Exception):
diff --git a/testing/logging/test_fixture.py b/testing/logging/test_fixture.py
index f82df1971..bcb20de58 100644
--- a/testing/logging/test_fixture.py
+++ b/testing/logging/test_fixture.py
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ def test_caplog_captures_for_all_stages(caplog, logging_during_setup_and_teardow
     assert [x.message for x in caplog.get_records("setup")] == ["a_setup_log"]
 
     # This reaches into private API, don't use this type of thing in real tests!
-    assert set(caplog._item._store[caplog_records_key]) == {"setup", "call"}
+    assert set(caplog._item.stash[caplog_records_key]) == {"setup", "call"}
 
 
 def test_ini_controls_global_log_level(pytester: Pytester) -> None:
diff --git a/testing/test_junitxml.py b/testing/test_junitxml.py
index 0ded0685a..edd1dfde6 100644
--- a/testing/test_junitxml.py
+++ b/testing/test_junitxml.py
@@ -951,7 +951,7 @@ def test_dont_configure_on_workers(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
         def __init__(self):
             self.pluginmanager = self
             self.option = self
-            self._store = Stash()
+            self.stash = Stash()
 
         def getini(self, name):
             return "pytest"