he's there to reveal some awsome plot information about Tobi (obito, Madare, whatever name fits you the best) and tell Naruto of some super secret location they could talk to one another.
When Naruto clone hears that he (Naruto) will start running away, just in time for Kisame to come out from the shadows and question Itachi as for why he hasn't captured Naruto, and Itachi will say that he lured Naruto to the said spot, and that capturing 'this' naruto would have pointless, since it was a clone. And then Itachi will do some crazy Shuriken thing and destroy the clan, so he'll keep the possibilties of being either good or evil open.

more so, the Hebi trenchcoat mob seems to be concentrated on tracking skills, Juugi can speak to animals, Karin can do her shit (I'm really wishing for a byakogen user) and Suugi was also about to do some sneaking around, maybe some liquid ooze form...