diff --git a/tests/files/test_dependencies.py b/tests/files/test_dependencies.py
index bd09d68c..ac4ee56d 100644
--- a/tests/files/test_dependencies.py
+++ b/tests/files/test_dependencies.py
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ def test_deps(proj_path):
         _ = NodeC(deps=a.metrics)
         _ = NodeC(deps=a.plots)
         _ = NodeC(deps=a.outs_path)
+        # TODO: do we want to allow `x_path` as a `deps` or should it go into `deps_path`?
         _ = NodeC(deps=a.metrics_paths)
         _ = NodeC(deps=a.plots_path)
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_outs_path_deps_path.py b/tests/integration/test_outs_path_deps_path.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..01c6a7b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/integration/test_outs_path_deps_path.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import zntrack.examples
+
+
+def test_outs_path_to_deps_path(proj_path):
+    with zntrack.Project() as proj:
+        a = zntrack.examples.WriteDVCOuts(params=10)
+        # assert a.outs == Path("nodes/WriteDVCOuts/output.txt") # uses znflow.resolve
+        b = zntrack.examples.ReadFile(path=a.outs)
+        # b = zntrack.examples.ReadFile(path=znflow.resolve(a.outs))
+        # b = zntrack.examples.ReadFile(path=Path("nodes/WriteDVCOuts/output.txt")) # works
+
+    proj.repro()
+
+    assert a.outs == Path("nodes/WriteDVCOuts/output.txt")
+    assert b.path == Path("nodes/WriteDVCOuts/output.txt")
+    assert b.content == "10"
diff --git a/zntrack/fields/x_path.py b/zntrack/fields/x_path.py
index 97a73cc0..eac1f5a2 100644
--- a/zntrack/fields/x_path.py
+++ b/zntrack/fields/x_path.py
@@ -23,7 +23,26 @@
 from zntrack.utils.node_wd import NWDReplaceHandler
 
 
-def _paths_getter(self: Node, name: str):
+def _paths_getter_input(self: Node, name: str):
+    """Resolve the paths for data the Node consumes."""
+    if name in self.__dict__ and self.__dict__[name] is not ZNTRACK_LAZY_VALUE:
+        return self.__dict__[name]
+    try:
+        with self.state.fs.open(ZNTRACK_FILE_PATH) as f:
+            content = json.load(f)[self.name][name]
+            content = znjson.loads(json.dumps(content))
+
+            if self.state.tmp_path is not None:
+                loader = TempPathLoader()
+                loader(content, instance=self)
+
+            return content
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        return NOT_AVAILABLE
+
+
+def _paths_getter_output(self: Node, name: str):
+    """Resolve the paths for data the Node produces."""
     # TODO: if self._external_: try looking into
     # external/self.uuid/...
     # this works for everything except node-meta.json because that
@@ -59,15 +78,14 @@ def outs_path(
     kwargs["metadata"][ZNTRACK_OPTION] = ZnTrackOptionEnum.OUTS_PATH
     kwargs["metadata"][ZNTRACK_CACHE] = cache
     kwargs["metadata"][ZNTRACK_INDEPENDENT_OUTPUT_TYPE] = independent
-    kwargs["metadata"][ZNTRACK_FIELD_LOAD] = _paths_getter
+    kwargs["metadata"][ZNTRACK_FIELD_LOAD] = _paths_getter_output
     return znfields.field(default=default, getter=plugin_getter, **kwargs)
 
 
-def params_path(default=dataclasses.MISSING, *, cache: bool = True, **kwargs):
+def params_path(default=dataclasses.MISSING, **kwargs):
     kwargs["metadata"] = kwargs.get("metadata", {})
     kwargs["metadata"][ZNTRACK_OPTION] = ZnTrackOptionEnum.PARAMS_PATH
-    kwargs["metadata"][ZNTRACK_CACHE] = cache
-    kwargs["metadata"][ZNTRACK_FIELD_LOAD] = _paths_getter
+    kwargs["metadata"][ZNTRACK_FIELD_LOAD] = _paths_getter_input
     return znfields.field(default=default, getter=plugin_getter, **kwargs)
 
 
@@ -82,7 +100,7 @@ def plots_path(
     kwargs["metadata"][ZNTRACK_OPTION] = ZnTrackOptionEnum.PLOTS_PATH
     kwargs["metadata"][ZNTRACK_CACHE] = cache
     kwargs["metadata"][ZNTRACK_INDEPENDENT_OUTPUT_TYPE] = independent
-    kwargs["metadata"][ZNTRACK_FIELD_LOAD] = _paths_getter
+    kwargs["metadata"][ZNTRACK_FIELD_LOAD] = _paths_getter_output
     return znfields.field(default=default, getter=plugin_getter, **kwargs)
 
 
@@ -99,13 +117,12 @@ def metrics_path(
     kwargs["metadata"][ZNTRACK_OPTION] = ZnTrackOptionEnum.METRICS_PATH
     kwargs["metadata"][ZNTRACK_CACHE] = cache
     kwargs["metadata"][ZNTRACK_INDEPENDENT_OUTPUT_TYPE] = independent
-    kwargs["metadata"][ZNTRACK_FIELD_LOAD] = _paths_getter
+    kwargs["metadata"][ZNTRACK_FIELD_LOAD] = _paths_getter_output
     return znfields.field(default=default, getter=plugin_getter, **kwargs)
 
 
-def deps_path(default=dataclasses.MISSING, *, cache: bool = True, **kwargs):
+def deps_path(default=dataclasses.MISSING, **kwargs):
     kwargs["metadata"] = kwargs.get("metadata", {})
     kwargs["metadata"][ZNTRACK_OPTION] = ZnTrackOptionEnum.DEPS_PATH
-    kwargs["metadata"][ZNTRACK_CACHE] = cache
-    kwargs["metadata"][ZNTRACK_FIELD_LOAD] = _paths_getter
+    kwargs["metadata"][ZNTRACK_FIELD_LOAD] = _paths_getter_input
     return znfields.field(default=default, getter=plugin_getter, **kwargs)
diff --git a/zntrack/node.py b/zntrack/node.py
index a120d840..ed1e8487 100644
--- a/zntrack/node.py
+++ b/zntrack/node.py
@@ -16,7 +16,13 @@
 from zntrack.state import NodeStatus
 from zntrack.utils.misc import get_plugins_from_env
 
-from .config import NOT_AVAILABLE, ZNTRACK_LAZY_VALUE, NodeStatusEnum
+from .config import (
+    NOT_AVAILABLE,
+    ZNTRACK_LAZY_VALUE,
+    ZNTRACK_OPTION,
+    NodeStatusEnum,
+    ZnTrackOptionEnum,
+)
 
 try:
     from typing import dataclass_transform
@@ -78,6 +84,17 @@ def __post_init__(self):
                     log.warning(
                         "Node name should not contain '_'. This character is used for defining groups."
                     )
+        for field in dataclasses.fields(self):
+            # X_Path should be resolved instead of passing
+            #  a connection. They are known at runtime.
+            if field.metadata.get(ZNTRACK_OPTION, None) in [
+                ZnTrackOptionEnum.PARAMS_PATH,
+                ZnTrackOptionEnum.DEPS_PATH,
+                ZnTrackOptionEnum.OUTS_PATH,
+                ZnTrackOptionEnum.PLOTS_PATH,
+                ZnTrackOptionEnum.METRICS_PATH,
+            ]:
+                self._protected_.append(field.name)
 
     def _post_load_(self):
         """Called after `from_rev` is called."""