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I've used a weak form of the lion in a number of games, mostly as the
leader piece in a series of games ranging from Chieftain Chess through my
current assault on the size of chess variants and the sensibilities of
chess variantists. It steps one or two squares, may change direction
between the first and second step, but may neither jump nor return to its
starting square. (Leaders aren't allowed to run around in circles!) But
the first game I used it in was Lemurian Shatranj, as the queen analog. It
was quite a strong piece there, and it was matched up against some rather
strong pieces on a small (8x8) board. It was the other strong pieces which
balanced it out.

When I look at Chu Shogi, I see both a 12x12 board and 8 pieces/side of a
rook or greater in value, most of them sliders. Both these serve to dilute
the power of the lion. Both are lost in bringing the lion to the queen's
place in FIDE. It seems to me you are metaphorically bringing a ninja piece
into a game of epee and main gauche... I have a terrible urge to suggest
taking a leaf from Noble Wing chess and adding a non-capturing ferz move to
the queen's rook and king's knight, and a non-capturing wazir move to the
king's bishop as an alternate variant that might reverse a little of the
gain the lion has made in the transition to a smaller pond. Some may find
it interesting.