There are provided methods and systems for transferring requested data over a node chain from a source node to a destination node through at least two intermediate nodes. A method includes identifying, at a file system level, at each of the at least two intermediate nodes, prior data previously sent to or received from a subsequent node in the node chain that matches at least a portion of the requested data. The method also includes transmitting, to the subsequent node, at least one pointer to the prior data and a reconstruction recipe for reconstructing the requested data at the subsequent node based on at least the at least one pointer, when the prior data matches at least the portion of the requested data.