Naruto Chapter 457

[poopdeville]

Something is bugging me about this Mifune guy...

He is up to something. This could possibly be a trap to get the Kage's all in one place, I doubt to assassinate them, but maybe for some political gain.
**CRAZY THEORY ALERT*** I'm even going to suggest that Mifune is Madara in disguise. He's got the same wrinkles that Tobi had when he removed his mask while talking to Sasuke (of course that could just be how Kishi likes to draw wrinkles). And it would could be plausible that he founded Akatsuki knowing that if they caused enough havoc then the Kage's would eventually have a meeting and would hold it in the Iron country. Then he sends Sasuke in to attack and remove any doubt about the threat Akatsuki poses. He defeats/captures Sasuke as a ploy to gain favor/trust/power with the Kage's so that they call on the Iron country when they need help from bijuu/akatsuki attacks. But it backfires because Naruto jumps in to save the day and gains Raikage's respect.

I know it doesn't really fit with the rest of the story, but I'm tired and thats the best I can come up with right now. Point is, I don't trust Mifune.

I don't know about some of the specific planning you mentioned, but it isn't so implausible for Madara to kill off the leader of whichever village was hosting, once the meeting was announced. He obviously knows about the meeting. (You've got to wonder how he found out about it. I suppose the current Mizukage could have told him, assuming she knows about him and Akatsuki. But then the only one of the Kages we can be pretty sure DIDN'T tell him is the Raikage.)