diff --git a/cpp/nd/string_array_holder.hpp b/cpp/nd/string_array_holder.hpp
index 92ede7a91f..d1b1c20bfd 100644
--- a/cpp/nd/string_array_holder.hpp
+++ b/cpp/nd/string_array_holder.hpp
@@ -29,12 +29,19 @@ class string_stream_array_holder
     std::vector<int64_t> offsets_;
     std::vector<int64_t> range_offsets_;
     std::vector<const void*> holders_;
+
+    // Zero-copy buffer cache: raw pointers to buffer data and offsets.
+    // SAFETY: These pointers remain valid as long as holders_ contains the chunk arrays.
+    // This eliminates shared_ptr atomic reference counting in get_range_data() hot path.
+    std::vector<const uint8_t*> buffer_cache_;
+    std::vector<const uint32_t*> offsets_cache_;
+
     const void* dynamic_std_holder_ = nullptr;
     const void* dynamic_icm_holder_ = nullptr;
     bool is_valid_ = true;
 
     void initialize(const nd::array& arr);
-    void initialize_single_range(const auto& range_adapter);
+    void initialize_single_range(const auto& range_adapter, const nd::array& source_arr);
     void initialize_complex(const nd::array& arr);
     bool try_initialize_range_arrays(const auto& vstacked, const nd::array& fallback);
     void clear_range_data();